-  3a 

LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

GIFT    OK 


Accessions  No.  H*6.C(.\<A..       Shelf  No. 


MILES  WALLINGFORD 


AFLOAT    AND    ASHORE. 


BY      J.      FENIMORE      COOPER. 


COMPLETE   IN    ONR   'VOL  UME 


NEW    EDITION. 


NEW    YORK: 
STRINGER      AND      TOWNSEND. 

185G 


MILES  WALUNGFOBD. 


Entered,  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1814,  by 
J.    FENIMORE   COOPER, 

in  the  C.UTK'S  oJh'ce  ot'  the  district  court  for  the  .Northern  district 
oi  New  York. 


PEEFACE. 


THE  conclusion  of  this  tale  requires  but  little 
preface.  Many  persons  may  think  that  there  is  too 
much  of  an  old  man's  despondency  in  a  few  of  the 
opinions  of  this  portion  of  the  work ;  but,  after  sixty, 
it  is  seldom  we  view  the  things  of  this  world  en  beau. 
There  are  certain  political  allusions,  very  few  in 
number,  but  pretty  strong  in  language,  that  the  signs 
of  the  times  fully  justify,  in  the  editor's  judgment; 
though  he  does  not  profess  to  give  his  own  sentiments 
in  this  work,  so  much  as  those  of  the  subject  of  the 
narrative  himself.  "  The  anti-rent  combination,"  for 
instance,  will  prove,  according  to  the  editor's  conjec 
tures,  to  be  one  of  two  things  in  this  community — 
the  commencement  of  a  dire  revolution,  or  the  com 
mencement  of  a  return  to  the  sounder  notions  and 
juster  principles  that  prevailed  among  us  thirty 
years  since,  than  certainly  prevail  to-day.  There  is 
one  favourable  symptom  discoverable  in  the  deep- 
seated  disease  that  pervades  the  social  system:  men 

iiii) 


iv  PREFACE. 

dare,  and  do,  deal  more  honestly  and  frankly  with 
the  condition  of  society  in  this  country,  than  was 
done  a  few  years  since.  This  right,  one  that  ought 
to  be  most  dear  to  every  freeman,  has  been  recovered 
only  by  painful  sacrifices  and  a  stern  resolution ;  but 
recovered  it  has  been,  in  some  measure ;  and,  were 
the  pens  of  the  country  true  to  their  owners'  privi 
leges,  we  should  soon  come  to  a  just  view  of  the 
sacred  nature  of  private  character,  as  well  as  the 
target-like  vulnerability  of  public  follies  and  public 
vice.  It  is  certain  that,  for  a  series  of  dangerous  years, 
notions  just  the  reverse  of  this  have  prevailed  among 
us,  gradually  rendering  the  American  press  equally 
the  vehicle  of  the  most  atrocious  personal  calumny, 
and  the  most  flatulent  national  self-adulation.  It  is 
under  such  a  state  of  things  that  the  few  evils  alluded 
to  in  this  work  have  had  their  rise.  Bodies  of  men, 
however  ignorant  or  small,  have  come  to  consider 
themselves  as  integral  portions  of  a  community  that 
never  errs,  and,  consequently,  entitled  to  esteem 
themselves  infallible.  When  in  debt,  they  have  fan 
cied  it  political  liberty  to  pay  their  debts  by  the 
strong  hand ;  a  very  easy  transition  for  those  who 
believe  themselves  able  to  effect  all  their  objects.  The 
disease  has  already  passed  out  of  New  York  into 
Pennsylvania ;  it  will  spread,  like  any  other  epide 
mic,  throughout  the  country ;  and  there  will  soon  be 
a  severe  struggle  among  us,  between  the  knave  and 
the  honest  man.  Let  the  class  of  the  latter  look  to 


PREFACE.  T 

it.    It  is  to  be  hoped  it  is  still  sufficiently  powerful 
to  conquer. 

These  few  remarks  are  made  in  explanation  of 
certain  opinions  of  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  have  been 
extorted  from  him  by  the  events  of  the  day,  as  he 
was  preparing  this  work  for  the  press ;  remarks  that 
might  seem  out  of  place,  were  it  not  a  part  of  his 
original  plan,  which  contemplated  enlarging  far  more 
than  he  has,  indeed,  on  some  of  the  prominent  pecu 
liarities  of  the  state  of  society  in  which  he  has  passed 
.he  greater  part  of  his  days. 


MILES  WALLINGFOBD. 


CHAPTER  I. 

— "  But  I  '11  not  chide  thee; 
Let  shame  come  when  it  will,  I  do  not  call  it ; 
I  do  not  bid  the  thunder-bearer  shoot, 
Nor  tell  tales  of  thee  to  high-judging  Jove  j 

Mend  when  thou  canst " 

Lear. 

IT  is  almost  as  impossible  fo  describe  minutely  what 
occurred  on  the  boat's  reaching  the  Wallingford,  as  to  de 
scribe  all  the  terrific  incidents  of  the  struggle  between 
Drewett  and  myself  in  the  water.  I  had  sufficient  percep 
tion,  however,  to  see,  as  I  was  assisted  on  board  by  Mr. 
Hardinge  and  Neb,  that  Lucy  was  not  on  deck.  She  had 
probably  gone  to  join  Grace,  with  a  view  to  be  in  readiness 
for  meeting  the  dire  intelligence  that  was  expected.  I  after 
wards  learned  that  she  was  long  on  her  knees  in  the  after- 
cabin,  engaged  in  that  convulsive  prayer  which  is  apt  to 
accompany  sudden  and  extreme  distress  in  those  who  appeal 
to  God  in  their  agony. 

During  the  brief  moments,  and  they  were  but  mere  par 
ticles  of  time,  if  one  can  use  such  an  expression,  in  which 
my  senses  could  catch  anything  beyond  the  horrid  scene  in 
which  I  was  so  closely  engaged,  I  had  heard  shrill  screams 
from  the  lungs  of  Chloe ;  but  Lucy's  voice  had  not  mingled 
in  the  outcry.  Even  now,  as  we  were  raised,  or  aided,  to 
the  deck,  the  former  stood,  with  her  face  glistening  with 
tears,  half  convulsed  with  terror  and  half  expanding  with 
delight,  uncertain  whether  to  laugh  or  to  weep,  looking  first 
at  her  master  and  then  at  her  own  admirer,  until  her  feel 
ings  found  a  vent  in  the  old  exclamation  of  "  der  feller !" 

(7) 


S  MILES     W  A  L  LIN  G  FORD. 

It  was  fortunate  for  Andrew  Drewett  that  a  man  of  Post's 
experience  and  steadiness  was  with  us.  No  sooner  was  the 
seemingly  lifeless  body  on  board,  than  Mr.  Hardinge  ordered 
the  water-cask  to  be  got  out ;  and  he  and  Marble  would  have 
soon  been  rolling  the  poor  fellow  with  all  their  might,  or 
holding  him  up  by  the  heels,  under  the  notion  that  the  water 
he  had  swallowed  must  be  got  out  of  him,  before  he  could 
again  breathe ;  but  the  authority  of  one  so  high  in  the  pro 
fession  soon  put  a  stop  to  this.  Drewett's  wet  clothes  were 
immediately  removed,  blankets  were  warmed  at  the  galley, 
and  the  most  judicious  means  were  resorted  to,  in  order  to 
restore  the  circulation.  The  physician  soon  detected  signs 
of  life,  and,  ordering  all  but  one  or  two  assistants  to  leave 
the  spot,  in  ten  minutes  Drewett  was  placed  in  a  warm  bed, 
and  might  be  considered  out  of  danger. 

The  terrific  scene  enacted  so  directly  before  his  eyes,  pro 
duced  an  effect  on  the  Albo?i-ny  man,  who  consented  to  haul 
aft  his  main-sheet,  lower  his  studding-sail  and  top-sail,  come 
by  the  wind,  stand  across  to  the  Wallingford,  heave-to,  and 
lower  a  boat.  This  occurred  just  as  Drewett  was  taken 
below ;  and,  a  minute  later,  old  Mrs.  Drewett  and  her  two 
daughters,  Helen  and  Caroline,  were  brought  alongside  of 
us.  The  fears  of  these  tender  relatives  were  allayed  by  my 
report ;  for,  by  this  time,  I  could  both  talk  and  walk  ;  and 
Post  raised  no  objection  to  their  being  permitted  to  go  be 
low.  I  seized  that  opportunity  to  jump  down  into  the  sloop's 
hold,  where  Neb  brought  me  some  dry  clothes ;  and  I  was 
soon  in  a  warm,  delightful  glow,  that  contributed  in  no  small 
degree  to  my  comfort.  So  desperate  had  been  my  struggles, 
however,  that  it  took  a  good  night's  rest  completely  to  re 
store  the  tone  of  my  nerves  and  all  my  strength.  My 
arrangements  were  barely  completed,  when  I  was  summoned 
to  the  cabin. 

Grace  met  me  with  extended  arms.  She  wept  on  my 
bosom  for  many  minutes.  She  was  dreadfully  agitated  as 
it  was ;  though  happily  she  knew  nothing  of  the  cause  of 
Chloe's  screams,  and  of  the  confusion  on  deck,  until  I  was 
known  to  be  safe.  Then  Lucy  communicated  all  the  facts 
to  her  in  as  considerate  a  manner  as  her  own  kind  and  gen 
tle  nature  could  dictate.  I  was  sent  for,  as  just  stated,  and 
caressed  like  any  other  precious  thing  that  its  owner  had 


MILES     \V  ALLINGFORD  . 

supposed  itself  about  to  lose.  We  were  still  in  an  agitated 
Btate,  when  Mr.  Hardinge  appeared  at  the  door  of  the  cabin, 
with  a  prayer-book  in  his  hand.  He  demanded  our  atten 
tion,  all  kneeling  in  both  cabins,  while  the  good,  simple- 
minded  old  man  read  some  of  the  collects,  the  Lord's  Prayer, 
and  concluded  with  the  thanksgiving  for  "  a  safe  return  from 
sea" !  He  would  have  given  us  the  marriage  ceremony 
itself,  before  he  would  have  gone  out  of  the  prayer-book  for 
any  united  worship  whatever. 

It  was  impossible  not  to  smile  at  this  last  act  of  pious  sim 
plicity,  while  it  was  equally  impossible  not  to  be  touched 
with  such  an  evidence  of  sincere  devotion.  The  offering 
had  a  soothing  influence  on  all  our  feelings,  and  most  espe 
cially  on  those  of  the  excited  females.  As  I  came  out  into 
the  main-cabin,  after  this  act  of  devotion,  the  excellent 
divine  took  me  in  his  arms,  kissed  me  just  as  he  had  been 
used  to  do  when  a  boy,  and  blessed  me  aloud.  I  confess  I 
was  obliged  to  rush  on  deck  to  conceal  my  emotion. 

In  a  few  minutes  I  became  sufficiently  composed  to  order 
sail  made  on  our  course,  when  we  followed  the  Orpheus  up 
the  river,  soon  passing  her,  and  taking  care  to  give  her  a 
wide  berth ;  a  precaution  I  long  regretted  not  having  used 
at  first.  As  Mrs.  Drewett  and  her  two  daughters  refused  to 
quit  Andrew,  we  had  the  whole  family  added  to  our  party, 
as  it  might  be,  per  force.  I  confess  to  having  been  suffi 
ciently  selfish  to  complain  a  little,  to  myself  only,  however, 
at  always  finding  these  people  in  my  way,  during  the  brief 
intervals  I  now  enjoyed  of  being  near  Lucy.  As  there  was 
no  help,  after  seeing  all  the  canvass  spread,  I  took  a  seat  in 
one  of  the  chairs  that  stood  on  the  main-deck,  and  began, 
for  the  first  time,  coolly  to  ponder  on  all  that  had  just  passed. 
While  thus  occupied,  Marble  drew  a  chair  to  my  side,  gave 
me  a  cordial  squeeze  of  the  hand,  and  began  to  converse. 
At  this  moment,  neatly  tricked  out  in  dry  clothes,  stood  Neb 
on  the  forecastle,  with  his  arms  folded,  sailor-fashion,  as 
calm  as  if  he  had  never  felt  the  wind  blow ;  occasionally 
giving  in,  however,  under  the  influence  of  Chloe's  smiles  and 
unsophisticated  admiration.  In  these  moments  of  weakness 
(he  black  would  bow  his  head,  give  vent  to  a  short  laugh, 
when,  suddenly  recovering  himself,  he  would  endeavour  to 


10  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

appear  dignified.  While  this  pantomime  was  in  the  course 
of  exhibition  forward,  the  discourse  aft  did  not  flag. 

"  Providence  intends  you  for  something  remarkable, 
Miles,"  my  mate  continued,  after  one  or  two  brief  expres 
sions  of  his  satisfaction  at  my  safety  ;  "  something  uncom 
monly  remarkable,  depend  on  it.  First,  you  were  spared  in 
the  boat  off  the  Isle  of  Bourbon ;  then,  in  another  boat  off 
Delaware  Bay  ;  next,  you  got  rid  of  the  Frenchman  so  dex 
terously  in  the  British  Channel ;  after  that,  there  was  the 
turn-up  with  the  bloody  Smudge  and  his  companions ;  next 
comes  the  recapture  of  the  Crisis ;  sixthly,  as  one  might 
say,  you  picked  me  up  at  sea,  a  runaway  hermit ;  and  now 
here,  this  very  day,  seventhly  and  lastly,  are  you  sitting 
safe  and  sound,  after  carrying  as  regular  a  lubber  as  ever 
fell  overboard,  on  your  head  and  shoulders,  down  to  the 
bottom  of  the  Hudson,  no  less  than  three  times  !  I  consider 
you  to  be  the  only  man  living  who  ever  sank  his  three  times, 
and  came  up  to  tell  of  it,  with  his  own  tongue." 

"  I  am  not  at  all  conscious  of  having  said  one  word  about 
it,  Moses,"  I  retorted,  a  little  drily. 

"  Every  motion,  every  glance  of  your  eye,  boy,  tells  the 
story.  No  ;  Providence  intends  you  for  something  remark 
able,  you  may  rely  on  that.  One  of  these  days  you  may 
go  to  Congress — who  knows?" 

"  By  the  same  rule,  you  are  to  be  included,  then  ;  for  in 
most  of  my  adventures  you  have  been  a  sharer,  besides  hav 
ing  quantities  that  are  exclusively  your  own.  Remember, 
you  have  even  been  a  hermit." 

"  Hu-s-h — not  a  syllable  about  it,  or  the  children  would 
run  after  me  as  a  sight.  You  must  have  generalized  in  a 
remarkable  way,  Miles,  after  you  sunk  the  last  time,  without 
much  hope  of  coming  up  again?" 

"  Indeed,  my  friend,  you  are  quite  right  in  your  conjec 
ture.  So  near  a  view  of  death  is  apt  to  make  us  all  take 
rapid  and  wide  views  of  the  past.  I  believe  it  even  crossed 
my  mind  that  you  would  miss  me  sadly." 

"  Ay,"  returned  Marble,  with  feeling ;  "  them  are  the  mo 
ments  ID  bring  out  the  truth  !  Not  a  juster  idee  passed  your 
brain  than  that,  Master  Miles,  I  can  assure  you.  Missed 
you !  I  would  have  bought  a  boat  and  started  for  Marble 
Land,  never  again  to  quit  it,  the  day  after  the  funeral.  Bui 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  11 

there  stands  your  cook,  fidgeting  and  looking  this  way,  as 
if  she  had  a  word  to  put  in  on  the  occasion.  This  expl'ite 
of  Neb's  will  set  the  niggers  up  in  the  world  ;  and  it  wouldn't 
surprise  me  if  it  cost  you  a  suit  of  finery  all  round." 

"  A  price  I  will  cheerfully  pay  for  my  life.  It  is  as  you 
say — Dido  certainly  wishes  to  speak  to  me,  and  I  must  give 
her  an  invitation  to  come  nearer." 

Dido  Clawbonny  was  the  cook  of  the  family,  and  the  mo 
ther  of  Chloe.  Whatever  hypercriticism  might  object  to  her 
colour,  which  was  a  black  out  of  which  all  the  gloss  had 
fairly  glistened  itself  over  the  fire,  no  one  could  deny  her 
being  full  blown.  Her  weight  was  exactly  two  hundred, 
and  her  countenance  a  strange  medley  of  the  light-hearted- 
ness  of  her  race,  and  the  habitual  and  necessary  severity  of 
a  cook.  She  often  protested  that  she  was  weighed  down  by 
u  responserbility ;"  the  whole  of  the  discredit  of  over-done 
beef,  or  under-done  fish,  together  with  those  which  attach 
themselves  to  heavy  bread,  lead-like  buckwheat-cakes,  and 
a  hundred  other  similar  cases,  belonging  exclusively  to  her 
office.  She  had  been  twice  married,  the  last  connection 
having  been  formed  only  a  twelvemonth  before.  In  obedi 
ence  to  a  sign,  this  important  lady  now  approached. 

"  Welcome  back,  Masser  Mile,"  Dido  began  with  a  curt 
sey,  meaning  "  Welcome  back  from  being  half-drowned ;" 
11  ebberybody  so  grad  you  isn't  hurt !" 

"  Thank  you,  Dido — thank  you  with  all  my  heart.  If  I 
have  gained  nothing  else  by  the  ducking,  I  have  gained  a 
knowledge  of  the  manner  in  which  my  servants  love  me." 

"  Lor'  bless  us  all !  How  we  help  it,  Masser  Mile?  As 
if  a  body  can  posserbly  help  how  lub  come  and  go !  Lub 
jest  like  religion,  Masser  Mile — some  get  him,  and  some 
don't.  But  lub  for  a  young  masser  and  a  young  missus, 
sah — dat  jest  as  nat'ral,  as  lub  for  ole  masser  and  ole  mis 
sus.  I  t'ink  nut'in'  of  neider." 

Luckily,  I  was  too  well  acquainted  with  the  Clawbonny 
dialect  to  need  a  vocabulary  in  order  to  understand  the 
meaning  of  Dido.  All  she  wished  to  express  was  the  idea 
that  it  was  so  much  a  matter  of  course  for  the  dependants 
of  the  family  to  love  its  heads,  that  she  did  not  think  the 
mere  circumstance,  in  itself,  worthy  of  a  second  thought. 


12  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  Well,  Dido,"  I  said,  "  how  does  matrimony  agree  with 
you,  in  your  old  age?  I  hear  you  took  a  second  partner  to 
yourself,  while  I  was  last  at  sea." 

Dido  let  her  eyes  fall  on  the  deck,  according  to  the  cus 
tom  of  all  brides,  let  their  colour  be  what  it  may  ;  manifested 
a  proper  degree  of  confusion,  then  curtsied,  turned  her  full 
moon-face  so  as  to  resemble  a  half-moon,  and  answered, 
with  a  very  suspicious  sort  of  a  sigh — 

"  Yes,  Masser  Mile,  dat  jest  so.  I  did  t'ink  to  wait  and 
ask  'e  young  masser's  consent ;  but  Cupid  say" — not  the 
god  of  love,  but  an  old  negro  of  that  name,  Dido's  second 
partner — "  but  Cupid  say,  *  what  odd  he  make  to  Masser 
Mile ;  he  long  way  off,  and  he  won't  care  :'  and  so,  sah,  rader 
than  be  tormented  so  by  Cupid,  one  had  altogedder  better 
be  married  at  once — dat  all,  sah." 

"  And  that  is  quite  enough,  my  good  woman  ;  that  every 
thing  may  be  in  rule,  I  give  my  consent  now,  and  most 
cheerfully." 

"  T'ankee,  sah !"  dropping  a  curtsey,  and  showing  her 
teeth. 

"  Of  course  the  ceremony  was  performed  by  our  excellent 
rector,  good  Mr.  Hardinge  ?" 

"  Sartain,  sah — no  Clawbonny  nigger  t'ink  he  marry  at 
all,  'less  Masser  Hardinge  bless  him  and  say  Amen.  Eb- 
berybody  say  'e  marriage  is  as  good  as  ole  Masser  and 
Missusses.  Dis  make  two  time  Dido  got  married  ;  and  both 
time  good,  lawful  ceremunny,  as  ebber  was.  Oh !  yes, 
sah  !" 

"  And  I  hope  your  change  of  condition  has  proved  to 
your  mind,  Dido,  now  the  thing  is  done.  Old  Cupid  is  no 
great  matter  in  the  way  of  beauty,  certainly  ;  but  he  is  an 
honest,  sober  fellow  enough." 

"  Yes,  sah,  he  dat,  no  one  can  deny.  Ah  !  Masser  Mile, 
'em  'ere  step-husband,  after  all,  nebber  jest  like  a  body  own 
husband !  Cupid  berry  honest,  and  berry  sober ;  but  he 
only  step-husband  ;  and  dat  I  tell  him  twenty  time  already, 
I  do  t'ink,  if  trut'  was  said." 

"  Perhaps  you  have  now  said  it  often  enough — twenty 
times  are  quite  sufficient  to  tell  a  man  such  a  fact." 

"  Yes,  sah,"  dropping  another  curtsey,  "  if  Masser  Mile 
please." 


MILES     W  A  L  LIN  G  FOR  D.  13 

««I  do  please,  and  think  you  have  told  him  that  often 
enough.  If  a  man  won't  learn  a  thing  in  twenty  lessons, 
he  is  not  worth  the  trouble  of  teaching.  So  tell  him  he 's  a 
step-husband  no  more,  but  try  something  else.  I  hope  he 
makes  Chloe  a  good  father  ?" 

"  Lor',  sah,  he  no  Chloe's  fadder,  at  all — her  fadder  dead 
and  gone,  and  nebber  come  back.  I  want  to  say  a  word  to 
young  Masser,  'bout  Chloe  and  dat  'ere  fellow,  Neb — yes, 
sah." 

"  Weil,  what  is  it,  Dido  1  I  see  they  like  each  other,  and 
suppose  they  wish  to  get  married,  too.  Is  that  the  object 
of  your  visit  1  if  so,  I  consent  without  waiting  to  be  asked. 
Neb  will  make  no  step-husband,  I  can  promise  you." 

"  Don't  be  in  a  hurry,  Masser  Mile,"  said  Dido,  with  an 
eagerness  that  showed  this  ready  consent  was  anything  but 
what  she  wanted.  "  Dere  many  'jection  to  Neb,  when  he 
ask  to  marry  a  young  gal  in  Chloe  sitiation.  You  know, 
sah,  Chloe  now  Miss  Grace's  own  waitin'-maid.  Nobody 
else  help  her  dress,  or  do  anything  in  'e  young  missus's 
room,  dan  Chloe,  sheself — my  darter,  Chloe  Clawbonny !" 

Here  was  a  new  turn  given  to  the  affair  !  It  was  "  like 
master,  like  man."  Neb's  love  (or  lub,  for  that  was  just 
the  word,  and  just  the  idea,  too)  was  no  more  fated  to  run 
smooth  than  my  own ;  and  the  same  objection  lay  against 
us  both,  viz.,  want  of  gentility  !  I  determined  to  say  a  good 
word  for  the  poor  fellow,  however;  while  it  would  have 
been  exceeding  the  usage  of  the  family  to  interfere  in  any 
other  manner  than  by  advice,  in  an  affair  of  the  heart. 

"  If  Chloe  is  my  sister's  favourite  servant,  Dido,"  I  re 
marked,  "  you  are  to  remember  that  Neb  is  mine." 

"  Dat  true,  sah,  and  so  Chloe  say ;  but  dere  great  differ 
ence,  Masser  Mile,  atween  Clawbonny  and  a  ship.  Neb 
own,  himself,  young  Masser,  he  doesn't  even  lib  in  cabin, 
where  you  lib,  sah." 

"  All  that  is  true,  Dido ;  but  there  is  a  difference  of  an 
other  sort  between  a  ship  and  a  house.  The  house-servant 
may  be  more  liked  and  trusted  than  the  out-door  servant ; 
but  we  think,  at  sea,  it  is  more  honourable  to  be  a  foremast- 
hand  than  to  be  in  the  cabin,  unless  as  an  officer.  I  was  a 
foremast  Jack  some  time,  myself;  and  Neb  is  only  in  such 
a  berth  as  his  master  once  filled," 


14  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

"Dat  a  great  deal — quite  won'erful,  sah — berry  great 
deal,  and  more  dan  Chloe  can  say,  or  I  can  wish  her  to  say. 
But,  sah,  dey  say  now  Neb  has  save  'e  young  masser's  life, 
young  masser  must  gib  him  free-paper ;  and  no  gal  of  mine 
shall  ebber  be  free  nigger's  wife.  No,  sah  ;  'scuse  me  from 
dat  disgrace,  which  too  much  for  fait'ful  ole  servant  to 
bear !" 

"  I  am  afraid,  Dido,  Neb  is  the  same  way  of  thinking.  I 
offered  him  his  freedom,  the  other  day,  and  he  refused  to 
receive  it.  Times  are  changing  in  this  country  ;  and  it  will 
be  thought,  soon,  it  is  more  creditable  for  a  black  to  be  free, 
than  to  be  any  man's  slave.  The  law  means  to  free  all 
hands  of  you,  one  of  these  days." 

"  Nebber  tell  me  dat,  Masser  Mile — dat  day  nebber  como 
for  me  or  mine ;  even  ole  Cupid  know  better  dan  dat.  Now, 
sah,  Misser  Van  Blarcum's  Brom  want  to  have  Chloe,  dread 
ful  ;  but  I  nebber  consent  to  sich  a  uner" — (Dido  meant 
union) — "  nebber.  Our  family,  sah,  altogedder  too  good  to 
marry  in  among  the  Van  Blarcums.  Nebber  has  been,  and 
never  shall  be  uner  atween  'em." 

"  I  was  not  aware,  Dido,  that  the  Clawbonny  slaves  were 
so  particular  about  their  connections." 

"  Won'erful  particular,  sah,  and  ebber  hab  been,  and  ebber 
will  be.  Don't  t'ink,  Masser  Mile,  I  marry  ole  Cupid,  my 
self,  if  anoder  prop'r  connection  offer  in  'e  family ;  but  I 
prefar  him,  to  marry  into  any  oder  family  hereabout." 

"  Neb  is  Clawbonny,  and  my  great  friend  ;  so  I  hope  you 
will  think  better  of  his  suit.  Some  day  Chloe  may  like  to 
be  free  ;  and  Neb  will  always  have  it  in  his  power  to  make 
his  wife  free,  as  well  as  himself." 

"  Sah,  I  t'ink,  as  you  say,  Masser  Miles,  sah  —  when  I 
hab  done  t'inkin',  sah,  hope  young  masser  and  young  missus 
hear  what  ole  cook  got  to  say,  afore  'ey  gives  consent." 

"  Certainly ;  Chloe  is  your  daughter,  and  she  shall  pay 
you  all  due  respect — for  that,  I  will  answer  for  my  sister 
as  well  as  for  myself.  We  will  never  encourage  disrespec* 
for  parents." 

Dido  renewed  and  redoubled  her  thanks,  made  another 
profound  curtsey,  and  withdrew  with  a  dignity  that,  I  dare 
say,  in  Neb's  and  Chloe's  eyes,  boded  little  good.  As  for 
myself,  I  now  mused  on  the  character  of  the  things  of  this 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  15 

world.  Here  were  people  of  the  very  humblest  class  known 
in  a  nation  —  nay,  of  a  class  sealed  by  nature  itself,  and 
doomed  to  inferiority— -just  as  tenacious  of  the  very  distinc 
tions  that  were  making  me  so  miserable,  and  against  which 
certain  persons,  who  are  wiser  than  the  rest  of  the  world, 
declaim  without  understanding  them,  and  even  go  so  far, 
sometimes,  as  to  deny  their  existence.  My  cook  reasoned, 
in  her  sphere,  much  as  I  knew  that  Rupert  reasoned,  as  the 
Drewetts  reasoned,  as  the  world  reasoned,  and,  as  I  feared, 
even  Lucy  reasoned  in  my  own  case  !  The  return  of  Mar 
ble,  who  had  left  my  side  as  soon  as  Dido  opened  her  budget, 
prevented  my  dwelling  long  on  this  strange — I  had  almost 
said,  uncouth — coincidence,  and  brought  my  mind  back  to 
present  things. 

"  As  the  old  woman  has  spun  her  yarn,  Miles,"  the  mate 
resumed,  "  we  will  go  on  with  matters  and  things.  I  have 
been  talking  with  the  mother  of  the  youngster  that  fell  over 
board,  and  giving  her  some  advice  for  the  benefit  of  her  son 
in  time  to  come ;  and  what  do  you  think  she  gives  as  the 
reason  for  the  silly  thing  he  did  ?" 

"  It  is  quite  out  of  my  power  to  say — that  he  was  a  silly 
fellow  naturally,  perhaps." 

"  Love.  It  seems  the  poor  boy  is  in  love  with  this  sweet 
friend  of  yours,  Rupert's  sister ;  and  it  was  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  love  which  made  him  undertake  to  play  rope- 
dancer  on  our  main-boom !" 

"  Did  Mrs.  Drewett  tell  you  this,  with  her  own  mouth, 
Marble?" 

"  That  did  she,  Captain  Wallingford ;  for,  while  you  were 
discussing  Neb  and  Chloe  with  old  Dido,  we,  that  is,  the 
doctor,  the  mother  and  myself,  were  discussing  Andrew  and 
Lucy  between  ourselves.  The  good  old  lady  gave  me  to 
understand  it  was  a  settled  thing,  and  that  she  looked  on 
Miss  Hardinge,  already,  as  a  third  daughter." 

This  was  a  strange  subject  for  Mrs.  Drewett  to  discuss 
with  a  man  like  Marble,  or  even  with  Post ;  but  some  allow 
ances  were  to  be  made  for  Marble's  manner  of  viewing  his 
own  connection  with  the  dialogue,  and  more  for  the  excited 
condition  of  the  mother's  feelings.  She  was  scarcely  yet  in 
possession  of  all  her  faculties,  and  might  very  well  commit 
an  indiscretion  of  this  nature,  more  especially  in  her  conver- 


16  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

sation  with  a  man  in  Post's  position,  overlooking  or  disre 
garding  the  presence  of  the  mate.  The  effect  of  all  that  had 
passed  was  to  leave  a  strong  impression  on  my  mind  that  I 
was  too  late.  Lucy  must  be  engaged,  and  waited  only  to 
become  of  age,  in  order  to  make  the  settlements  she  intended 
in  favour  of  her  brother,  ere  she  was  married.  Her  manner 
to  myself  was  merely  the  result  of  habit  and  sincere  friend 
ship  ;  a  little  increased  in  interest  and  gentleness,  perhaps, 
on  account  of  the  grievous  wrong  she  felt  we  had  received 
from  Rupert.  What  right  had  I  to  complain,  admitting  all 
this  to  be  true?  I  had  scarcely  been  aware  of  my  own  pas 
sion  for  the  dear  girl,  for  years,  and  had  certainly  never 
attempted  to  make  her  acquainted  with  it.  She  had  made 
me  no  pledges,  plighted  no  faith,  received  no  assurances  of 
attachment,  was  under  no  obligation  to  wait  my  pleasure. 
So  sincere  was  my  affection  for  Lucy,  that  I  rejoiced,  even 
in  my  misery,  when  I  remembered  that  not  the  slightest 
imputation  could  be  laid  on  her  deportment,  truth,  or  frank 
ness.  On  the  whole,  it  was  perhaps  the  more  natural  that 
she  should  love  Andrew  Drewett,  one  she  met  for  the  first 
time  after  she  became  of  an  age  to  submit  to  such  impres 
sions,  than  to  love  me,  whom  she  had  been  educated  to  treat 
with  the  familiarity  and  confidence  of  a  brother.  Yes ;  I 
was  even  just  enough  to  admit  this. 

The  scene  of  the  morning,  and  the  presence  of  Mrs. 
Drewett  and  her  daughters,  produced  an  entire  change  in 
the  spirits  and  intercourse  of  our  party.  The  ladies  re 
mained  below  most  of  the  time ;  and  as  for  Drewett  himself, 
he  was  advised  by  Post  not  to  quit  his  berth  until  he  found 
his  strength  restored.  Mr.  Hardinge  passed  much  time  by 
Andrew  Drewett's  side,  offering  such  attentions  as  might  be 
proper  from  a  father  to  a  son.  At  least  it  so  seemed  to  me. 
This  left  Marble  and  myself  in  possession  of  the  quarter 
deck,  though  we  had  occasional  visits  from  all  below— 
Grace,  Lucy,  and  old  Mrs.  Drewett,  excepted. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Wallingford  continued  to  ascend 
the  river,  favoured  until  evening  by  a  light  southerly  breeze. 
She  outsailed  everything ;  and,  just  as  the  sun  was  sinking 
behind  the  fine  termination  of  the  Cattskill  range  of  moun 
tains,  we  were  some  miles  above  the  outlet  of  the  stream 
that  has  lent  it  its  name 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  17 

A  lovelier  landscape  can  scarce  be  imagined  than  that 
which  presented  itself  from  the  deck  of  the  sloop.  It  was 
the  first  time  I  had  ascended  the  river,  or  indeed  that  any 
of  the  Clawbonny  party  had  been  up  it  so  high,  Mr.  Har- 
dinge  excepted ;  and  everybody  was  called  on  deck  to  look 
at  the  beauties  of  the  hour.  The  sloop  was  about  a  mile 
above  Hudson,  and  the  view  was  to  be  gazed  at  towards  the 
south.  This  is  perhaps  the  finest  reach  of  this  very  beautiful 
stream,  though  it  is  not  the  fashion  to  think  so ;  the  High 
lands  being  the  part  usually  preferred.  It  is  easy  enough 
for  me,  who  have  since  lived  among  the  sublimity  of  the 
Swiss  and  Italian  lakes,  to  understand  that  there  is  nothing 
of  a  very  sublime  character,  relatively  considered,  in  any  of 
the  reaches  of  the  Hudson ;  but  it  would  be  difficult  to  find 
a  river  that  has  so  much  which  is  exquisitely  beautiful ;  and 
this,  too,  of  a  beauty  which  borders  on  the  grand.  Lucy 
was  the  first  person  to  create  any  doubts  in  my  mind  con 
cerning  the  perfection  of  the  Highlands.  Just  as  the  cock- 
ney  declaims  about  Richmond  Hill — the  inland  view  from 
Mont-Martre,  of  a  clouded  day,  is  worth  twenty  of  it — but 
just  as  the  provincial  London  cockney  declaims  about  Rich 
mond  Hill,  so  has  the  provincial  American  been  in  the  habit 
of  singing  the  praises  of  the  Highlands  of  the  Hudson.  The 
last  are  sufficiently  striking,  I  will  allow;  but  they  are  sur 
passed  in  their  own  kind  by  a  hundred  known  mountain 
landscapes ;  while  the  softer  parts  of  the  river  have  scarcely 
a  rival.  Lucy,  I  repeat,  was  the  first  person  to  teach  me 
this  distinction — Lucy,  who  then  had  never  seen  either  Alps 
or  Apennines.  But  her  eye  was  as  true  as  her  principles, 
her  tongue,  or  her  character.  All  was  truth  about  this  dear 
girl — truth  unadulterated  and  unalloyed. 

"  Certainly,  my  dear  Mrs.  Drewett,"  the  dear  girl  said,  as 
she  stood  supporting  the  old  lady,  who  leaned  on  her  arm, 
gazing  at  the  glorious  sunset,  "  the  Highlands  have  nothing 
to  equal  this  !  To  me  this  seems  all  that  art  could  achieve ; 
while  I  confess  the  views  in  the  mountains  have  ever  ap 
peared  to  want  something  that  the  mind  can  imagine." 

Mrs.  Drewett,  though  a  respectable,  was  a  common-place 

woman.     She  belonged  to  the  vast  class  that  do  most  of 

their  thinking  by  proxy ;  and  it  was  a  sort  of  heresy  in  her 

ey-?s  to  fancy  anything  could  surpass  the  Highlands.     Poor 

2  * 


16  MILES     W  A  LL  INGFOR  D. 

Mrs.  Drewett !  She  was  exceedingly  cockney,  without  hav> 
ing  the  slightest  suspicion  of  it.  Her  best  ought  to  be  every* 
body  else's  best.  She  combated  Lucy's  notion  warmly, 
therefore,  protesting  that  the  Highlands  could  not  have  a 
superior.  This  is  a  sort  of  argument  it  is  not  easy  to  over 
come  ;  and  her  companion  was  content  to  admire  the  scene 
before  her,  in  silence,  after  urging  one  or  two  reasons,  in 
support  of  her  opinion,  in  her  own  quiet,  unpretending 
manner. 

I  overheard  this  little  argument,  and  was  a  close  observer 
of  the  manner  of  the  parties.  Mrs.  Drewett  was  extremely 
indulgent,  even  while  warmest,  seeming  to  me  to  resist 
Lucy's  opinion  as  an  affectionate  mother  would  contend  with 
the  mistaken  notions  of  a  very  favourite  child.  On  the  other 
hand,  Lucy  appeared  confiding,  and  spoke  as  the  young  of 
her  sex  are  most  apt  to  do,  when  they  utter  their  thoughts  to 
ears  they  feel  must  be  indulgent. 

A  sunset  cannot  last  for  ever ;  and  even  this,  sweet  as  it 
had  been,  soon  became  tame  and  tasteless  to  me.  As  the 
ladies  now  disappeared,  I  determined  to  anchor,  the  wind 
failing,  and  the  tide  coming  ahead.  Marble  and  myself  had 
a  sort  of  state-room  fitted  up  for  us  in  the  hold  ;  and  thither 
I  was  glad  to  retire,  standing  really  in  need  of  rest,  after  the 
terrible  exertions  of  that  day.  What  passed  in  the  cabins 
that  evening,  I  had  no  opportunity  of  knowing,  though  I 
heard  laughing,  and  happy  female  voices,  through  the  bulk 
heads,  hours  after  my  own  head  was  on  its  pillow.  When 
Marble  came  down  to  turn  in,  he  told  me  the  cabin  party 
had  revived,  and  that  there  had  been  much  pleasant  dis 
course  among  the  young  people  ;  and  this  in  a  way  to  cause 
even  him  to  derive  great  satisfaction  as  a  listener. 

Neb  gave  us  a  call  at  day-light.  The  wind  was  fresh  at 
west- north- west,  but  the  tide  was  just  beginning  to  run  on 
the  flood.  I  was  so  impatient  to  be  rid  of  my  guests,  that 
all  hands  were  called  immediately,  and  we  got  the  sloop 
under-way.  The  pilot  professed  himself  willing  to  beat  up 
through  the  narrow  passages  above,  and,  the  Wallingford's 
greatest  performance  being  on  the  wind,  I  was  determined 
lo  achieve  my  deliverance  that  very  tide.  The  sloop  drew 
more  water  than  was  usual  for  the  up-river  craft,  it  is  true ; 
but  she  was  light,  and,  just  at  the  moment,  could  go  wher- 


MILES      WALLING  FORD.  19 

ever  the  loaded  Albany  vessels  went.  Those  were  not  the 
days  of  vast  public  works ;  and  as  for  sea-going  craft,  none 
had  ever  crossed  the  Overslaugh,  so  far  as  had  come  to  my 
knowledge.  Times  have  changed  greatly,  since ;  but  the 
reader  will  remember  I  am  writing  of  that  remote  period  in 
American  history,  the  year  of  our  Lord  1803. 

The  anchor  was  no  sooner  aweigh,  than  the  deck  became 
a  scene  of  activity.  The  breeze  was  stiff,  and  it  enabled  me 
to  show  the  Wallingford  off  to  advantage  among  the  dull, 
flat-bottomed  craft  of  that  day.  There  were  reaches  in 
which  the  wind  favoured  us,  too ;  and,  by  the  time  the  ladies 
reappeared,  we  were  up  among  the  islands,  worming  our 
way  through  the  narrow  channels  with  rapidity  and  skill. 
To  me,  and  to  Marble  also,  the  scene  was  entirely  novel ; 
and  between  the  activity  that  our  evolutions  required,  and 
the  constant  change  of  scene,  we  had  little  leisure  to  at 
tend  to  those  in  the  cabin.  Just  as  breakfast  was  an 
nounced,  indeed,  the  vessel  was  approaching  the  more  diffi 
cult  part  of  the  river ;  and  all  we  got  of  that  meal,  we  took 
on  deck,  at  snatches,  between  the  many  tacks  we  made. 
As  good-luck  would  have  it,  however,  the  wind  backed  more 
to  the  westward  about  eight  o'clock ;  and  we  were  enabled 
to  stem  the  ebb  that  began  to  make  at  the  same  time.  This 
gave  us  the  hope  of  reaching  the  end  of  our  passage  without 
again  anchoring. 

At  length  we  reached  the  Overslaugh,  which,  as  was  apt 
to  be  the  case,  was  well  sprinkled  with  vessels  aground. 
The  pilot  carried  us  through  them  all,  however ;  if  not  lite 
rally  with  flying  colours,  which  would  have  been  regarded 
as  an  insult  by  the  less  fortunate,  at  least  with  complete 
success.  Then  Albany  came  into  view,  leaning  against  its 
sharp  acclivity,  and  spreading  over  its  extensive  bottom 
land.  It  was  not  the  town  it  is  to-day,  by  quite  three-fourths 
less  in  dwellings  and  people ;  but  it  was  then,  as  now,  one 
of  the  most  picturesque-looking  places  in  America.  There 
is  no  better  proof,  in  its  way,  how  much  more  influence  the 
talking  and  writing  part  of  mankind  have  than  the  mere 
actors,  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  relative  consideration  of 
Albany,  on  the  scale  of  appearance  and  position,  as  com 
pared  with  those  enjoyed  by  a  hundred  other  towns,  more 
especially  in  the  Eastern  States.  Almost  without  a  compe- 


20  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

titor,  as  to  beauty  of  situation,  or  at  least  on  a  level  with 
Richmond  and  Burlington,  among  the  inland  towns,  it  was 
usually  esteemed  a  Dutch  place  that  every  pretender  was  at 
liberty  to  deride,  in  my  younger  days.  We  are  a  people  by 
no  means  addicted  to  placing  our  candle  under  the  bushel, 
and  yet  I  cannot  recall  a  single  civil  expression  in  any  native 
writer  touching  the  beauties  of  Albany.  It  may  have  been 
owing  to  the  circumstance  that  so  much  of  the  town  was 
under  the  hill  at  the  beginning  of  the  century,  and  that 
strangers  had  few  opportunities  of  seeing  it  to  advantage ; 
but  I  rather  think  its  want  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  origin  was 
the  principal  reason  it  was  so  little  in  favour. 

Glad  enough  was  I  to  reach  the  wharves,  with  their  line 
of  storehouses,  that  then  literally  spouted  wheat  into  the 
sloops  that  crowded  the  quays,  on  its  way  to  feed  the  con 
tending  armies  of  Europe.  Late  as  it  was  in  the  season, 
wheat  was  still  pouring  outward  through  all  the  channels  of 
the  country,  enriching  the  farmers  with  prices  that  frequently 
rose  as  high  as  two  dollars  and  a  half  the  bushel,  and  some 
times  as  high  as  three.  Yet  no  one  was  so  poor  in  America 
as  to  want  bread !  The  dearer  the  grain,  the  higher  the 
wages  of  the  labourer,  and  the  better  he  lived. 

It  was  not  at  all  late  when  the  Wallingford  was  slowly 
approaching  the  wharf  where  it  was  intended  to  bring-up. 
There  was  a  sloop  ahead  of  us,  which  we  had  been  gradu^ 
ally  approaching  for  the  last  two  hours,  but  which  was  en 
abled  to  keep  in  advance  in  consequence  of  the  lightness  of 
the  wind.  This  dying  away  of  the  breeze  rendered  the 
approaching  noon-tide  calm  and  pleasant ;  and  everybody 
inboard,  even  to  Grace,  came  on  deck,  as  we  moved  slowly 
past  the  dwellings  on  the  eastern  bank,  in  order  to  get  a 
view  of  the  town.  I  proposed  that  the  Clawbonny  party 
should  land,  contrary  to  our  original  intention,  and  profit  by 
the  opportunity  to  see  the  political  capital  of  the  State  at 
our  leisure.  Both  Grace  and  Lucy  were  inclined  to  listen 
favourably ;  and  the  Drewetts,  Andrew  and  his  sisters,  were 
delighted  at  this  prospect  of  our  remaining  together  a  little 
longer.  Just  at  this  moment,  the  Wallingford,  true  to  her 
character,  was  coming  up  with  the  sloop  ahead,  and  was 
already  doubling  on  her  quarter.  I  was  giving  some  orders, 
when  Lucy  and  Chloe,  supporting  Grace,  passed  me  on  their 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  21 

way  to  the  cabin.  My  poor  sister  was  pale  as  death,  and  I 
could  see  that  she  trembled  so  much  she  could  hardly  walk, 
^  significant  glance  from  Lucy  bade  me  not  to  interfere, 
and  I  bid  sufficient  self-command  to  obey.  I  turned  to  look 
at  the  neighbouring  sloop,  and  found  at  once  an  explanation 
of  my  sister's  agitation.  The  Mertons  and  Rupert  were  on 
her  quarter-deck,  and  so  near  as  to  render  it  impossible  to 
avoid  speaking,  at  least  to  the  former.  At  this  embarrassing 
;'nstant  Lucy  returned  to  my  side,  with  a  view,  as  I  after 
wards  learned,  to  urge  me  to  carry  the  Wallingford  to  some 
place  so  distant,  as  to  remove  the  danger  of  any  intercourse. 
This  accident  rendered  the  precaution  useless,  the  whole 
party  in  the  other  vessel  catching  sight  of  my  companion  at 
the  same  moment. 

"  This  is  an  agreeable  surprise !"  called  out  Emily,  in 
whose  eyes  Rupert's  sister  could  not  be  an  object  of  indif 
ference.  "  By  your  brother's  and  Mrs.  Drewett's  account, 
we  had  supposed  you  at  Clawbonny,  by  the  bed-side  of  Miss 
Wallingford." 

"  Miss  Wallingford  is  here,  as  are  my  father,  and  Mrs. 
Drewett,  and " 

Lucy  never  let  it  be  known  who  that  other  "  and"  was 
intended  to  include. 

"  Well,  this  is  altogether  surprising !"  put  in  Rupert,  with 
a  steadiness  of  voice  that  really  astounded  me.  "  At  the 
very  moment  we  were  giving  you  lots  of  credit  for  your 
constancy  in  friendship,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  here  you 
are,  Mademoiselle  Lucie,  trotting  off  to  the  Springs,  like  all 
the  rest  of  us,  bent  on  pleasure." 

"  No,  Rupert,"  answered  Lucy,  in  a  tone  which  I  thought 
could  not  fail  to  bring  the  heartless  coxcomb  to  some  sense 
of  the  feeling  he  ought  to  manifest ;  "  I  am  going  to  no 
Springs.  Dr.  Post  has  advised  a  change  of  scene  and  air 
for  Grace ;  and  Miles  has  brought  us  all  up  in  his  sloop, 
that  we  may  endeavour  to  contribute  to  the  dear  sufferer's 
comfort,  in  one  united  family.  We  shall  not  land  in  Al 
bany." 

I  took  my  cue  from  these  last  words,  and  understood  that 
I  was  not  even  to  bring  the  sloop  alongside  the  wharf. 

"  Upon  my  word,  it  is  just  as  she  says,  Colonel !"  cried 
Rupert.  ««  I  can  see  my  father  on  the  forecastle,  with  Post, 


22  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

and  diveu  others  of  my  acquaintance.  Ay — and  there's 
Drewett,  as  I  live  !  Wallingford,  too !  How  fare  you,  noble 
captain,  up  in  this  fresh-water  stream  1  You  must  be 
strangely  out  of  your  latitude." 

"  How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Hardinge  ?"  I  coldly  returned  the 
salutation ;  and  then  I  was  obliged  to  speak  to  the  Major 
and  his  daughter.  But  Neb  was  at  the  helm,  and  I  had 
given  him  a  sign  to  sheer  further  from  our  companion.  This 
soon  reduced  the  intercourse  to  a  few  wavings  of  handker 
chiefs,  and  kissings  of  the  hand,  in  which  all  the  Drewetts 
came  in  for  a  share.  As  for  Lucy,  she  walked  aside,  and  I 
seized  the  occasion  to  get  a  word  in  private. 

"  What  am  I  to  do  with  the  sloop  ?"  I  asked.  "  It  will 
soon  be  necessary  to  come  to  some  decision." 

"  By  no  means  go  to  the  wharf.  Oh  !  this  has  been  most 
cruel.  The  cabin-windows  are  open,  and  Grace  must  have 
heard  every  syllable.  Not  even  a  question  as  to  her  health ! 
I  dread  to  go  below  and  witness  the  effect." 

I  wished  not  to  speak  of  Rupert  to  his  sister,  and  avoided 
the  subject.  The  question,  therefore,  was  simply  repeated. 
Lucy  inquired  if  it  were  not  possible  to  land  our  passengers 
without  bringing-up,  and,  hearing  the  truth  on  the  subject, 
she  renewed  her  entreaties  not  to  land.  Room  was  taken 
accordingly,  and  the  sloop,  as  soon  as  high  enough,  was 
rounded-to,  and  the  boat  lowered.  The  portmanteau  of  Post 
was  placed  in  it,  and  the  Drewetts  were  told  that  everything 
was  ready  to  put  them  ashore. 

"  Surely  we  are  not  to  part  thus  !"  exclaimed  the  old  lady. 
"You  intend  to  land,  Lucy,  if  not  to  accompany  us  to 
Ballston  ?  The  waters  might  prove  of  service  to  Miss  Wal 
lingford." 

"  Dr.  Post  thinks  not,  but  advises  us  to  return  tranquilly 
down  the  river.  We  may  yet  go  as  far  as  Sandy  Hook,  or 
even  into  the  Sound.  It  all  depends  on  dear  Grace's  strength 
and  inclinations." 

Protestations  of  regret  and  disappointment  followed,  for 
everybody  appeared  to  think  much  of  Lucy,  and  very  little 
of  my  poor  sister.  Some  attempts  were  even  made  at  per 
suasion  ;  but  the  quiet  firmness  of  Lucy  soon  convinced  her 
friends  that  she  was  not  to  be  diverted  from  her  purpose. 
Mr.  Hardinge,  too,  had  a  word  to  say  in  confirmation  of  his 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  23 

daughter's  decision ;  and  the  travellers  reluctantly  prepared 
to  enter  the  boat.  After  he  had  assisted  his  mother  over 
the  sloop's  side,  Andrew  Drewett  turned  to  me,  and  in  fair, 
gentlemanlike,  manly  language,  expressed  his  sense  of  the 
service  I  had  rendered  him.  After  this  acknowledgment, 
the  first  he  had  made,  I  could  do  no  less  than  shake  his 
hand ;  and  we  parted  in  the  manner  of  those  who  have  con 
ferred  and  received  a  favour. 

I  could  perceive  that  Lucy's  colour  heightened,  and  that 
she  looked  exceedingly  gratified,  while  this  little  scene  was 
in  the  course  of  being  acted,  though  I  was  unable  to  com 
prehend  the  precise  feeling  that  was  predominant  in  her 
honest  and  truthful  heart.  Did  that  increased  colour  pro 
ceed  from  pleasure  at  the  handsome  manner  in  which 
Drewett  acquitted  himself  of  one  of  the  most  embarrassing 
of  all  our  duties — the  admission  of  a  deep  obligation  1  or  was 
it  in  any  manner  connected  with  her  interest  in  me  ?  I 
could  not  ask,  and  of  course  did  not  learn.  -This  scene, 
however,  terminated  our  intercourse  with  the  Drewetts,  for 
the  moment ;  the  boat  pulling  away  immediately  after. 


CHAPTER   II. 

« Misplaced  in  life, 

I  know  not  what  I  could  have  been,  but  feel 
I  am  not  what  I  should  be — let  it  end." 

Sardanapalus. 

GLAD  enough  was  I  to  find  the  quiet  and  domestic  cha 
racter  of  my  vessel  restored.  Lucy  had  vanished  as  soon 
as  it  was  proper ;  but,  agreeably  to  her  request,  I  got  the 
sloop's  head  down-stream,  and  began  our  return-passage, 
without  even  thinking  of  putting  a  foot  on  the  then  unknown 
land  of  Albany.  Marble  was  too  much  accustomed  to  sub 
mit  without  inquiry  to  the  movements  of  the  vessel  he  was 
in,  to  raise  any  objections ;  and  the  Wallingford,  her  boat 
in  tow,  was  soon  turning  down  with  the  tide,  aided  by  a 
light  westerly  wind,  on  her  homeward  course.  This  chango 


24  MILES     WALLINOFORD 

kept  all  on  deck  so  busy,  that  it  was  some  little  time  ere  I 
saw  Lucy  again.  When  we  did  meet,  however,  I  found  her 
sad,  and  full  of  apprehension.  Grace  had  evidently  been 
deeply  hurt  by  Rupert's  deportment.  The  effect  on  her 
frame  was  such,  that  it  was  desirable  to  let  her  be  as  little 
disturbed  as  possible.  Lucy  hoped  she  might  fall  asleep  ; 
for,  like  an  infant,  her  exhausted  physical  powers  sought 
relief  in  this  resource,  almost  as  often  as  the  state  of  her 
mind  would  permit.  Her  existence,  although  I  did  not  then 
know  it,  was  like  that  of  the  flame  which  flickers  in  the  air, 
and  which  is  endangered  by  the  slightest  increase  of  the 
current  to  which  the  lamp  may  be  exposed. 

We  succeeded  in  getting  across  the  Overslaugh  without 
touching,  and  had  got  down  among  the  islands  below  Coeji- 
man's,*  when  we  were  met  by  the  new  flood.  The  wind 
dying  away  to  a  calm,  we  were  compelled  to  select  a  berth, 
and  anchor.  As  soon  as  we  were  snug,  I  sought  an  inter 
view  with  Lucy ;  but  the  dear  girl  sent  me  word  by  Chloe 
that  Grace  was  dozing,  and  that  she  could  not  see  me  just 
at  that  moment,  as  her  presence  in  the  cabin  was  necessary 
in  order  to  maintain  silence.  On  receiving  this  message,  I 
ordered  the  boat  hauled  up  alongside ;  Marble,  myself  and 
Neb  got  in ;  when  the  black  sculled  us  ashore — Chloe  grin 
ning  at  the  latter's  dexterity,  as  with  one  hand,  and  a  mere 
play  of  the  wrist,  he  caused  the  water  to  foam  under  the 
bows  of  our  little  bark. 

The  spot  where  we  landed  was  a  small  but  lovely  gravelly 
cove,  that  was  shaded  by  three  or  four  enormous  weeping- 
willows,  and  presented  the  very  picture  of  peace  and  repose. 
It  was  altogether  a  retired  and  rural  bit,  there  being  near  it 
no  regular  landing,  no  reels  for  seines,  nor  any  of  those 
signs  that  denote  a  place  of  resort.  A  single  cottage  stood 
on  a  small  natural  terrace,  elevated  some  ten  or  twelve  feet 
above  the  rich  bottom  that  sustained  the  willows.  This  cot 
tage  was  the  very  beau  ideal  of  rustic  neatness  and  home 
comfort.  It  was  of  stone,  one  story  in  height,  with  a  high 
pointed  roof,  and  had  a  Dutch-looking  gable  that  faced  the 
river,  and  which  contained  the  porch  and  outer  door.  The 

*  Queemans,  as  pronounced.  This  is  a  Dutch,  not  an  Indian  name, 
and  belongs  to  a  respectable  New  York  family. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  25 

were  white  as  the  driven  snow,  having  been  washed 
a  few  weeks  before.  The  windows  had  the  charm  of  irre 
gularity  ;  and  everything  about  the  dwelling  proclaimed  a 
former  century,  and  a  regime  different  from  that  under 
which  we  were  then  living.  In  fact,  the  figures  1698,  let  in 
as  iron  braces  to  the  wall  of  the  gable,  announced  that  the 
house  was  quite  as  old  as  the  second  structure  at  Claw- 
bonny. 

The  garden  of  this  cottage  was  not  large,  but  it  was  in 
admirable  order.  It  lay  entirely  in  the  rear  of  the  dwelling ; 
and  behind  it,  again,  a  small  orchard,  containing  about  a 
hundred  trees,  on  which  the  fruit  began  to  show  itself  in 
abundance,  lay  against  the  sort  of  amphitheatre  that  almost 
enclosed  this  little  nook  against  the  intrusion  and  sight  of 
the  rest  of  the  world.  There  were  also  half  a  dozen  huge 
cherry  trees,  from  which  the  fruit  had  not  yet  altogether 
disappeared,  near  the  house,  to  which  they  served  the  dou 
ble  purpose  of  ornament  and  shade.  The  out-houses  seemed 
to  be  as  old  as  the  dwelling,  and  were  in  quite  as  good  order. 

As  we  drew  near  the  shore,  I  directed  Neb  to  cease  scull 
ing,  and  sat  gazing  at  this  picture  of  retirement,  and,  appa 
rently,  of  content,  while  the  boat  drew  towards  the  gravelly 
beach,  under  the  impetus  already  received. 

"  This  is  a  hermitage  I  think  I  could  stand,  Miles,"  said 
Marble,  whose  look  had  not  been  off  the  spot  since  the  mo 
ment  we  left  the  sloop's  side.  "This  is  what  I  should  call 
a  human  hermitage,  and  none  of  your  out  and  out  solitudes. 
Room  for  pigs  and  poultry ;  a  nice  gravelly  beach  for  your 
boat ;  good  fishing  in  the  offing,  I  '11  answer  for  it ;  a  snug 
shoulder-of-mutton  sort  of  a  house ;  trees  as  big  as  a  two- 
decker's  lower  masts ;  and  company  within  hail,  should  a 
fellow  happen  to  take  it  into  his  head  that  he  was  getting 
melancholy.  This  is  just  the  spot  I  would  like  to  fetch-up 
in,  when  it  became  time  to  go  into  dock.  What  a  place  to 
smoke  a  segar  in  is  that  bench  up  yonder,  under  the  cherry 
tree ;  and  grog  must  have  a  double  flavour  alongside  of  that 
spring  of  fresh  water  !" 

"  You  could  become  the  owner  of  this  very  place,  Moses, 
and  then  we  should  be  neighbours,  and  might  visif  each 
other  by  water.     It  cannot  be  much  more  than  fifty  milea 
from  this  soot  to  Clawbonny." 
3 


26  MILES     WA.LLINGFORD. 

"  1  dare  say,  now,  that  they  would  think  of  asking,  for  a 
place  like  this,  as  much  money  as  would  buy  a  good  whole 
some  ship — a  regular  A.  No.  1." 

"  No  such  thing ;  a  thousand  or  twelve  hundred  dollars 
would  purchase  the  house,  and  all  the  land  we  can  see — 
some  twelve  or  fifteen  acres,  at  the  most.  You  have  more 
than  two  thousand  salted  away,  I  know,  Moses,  between 
prize-money,  wages,  adventures,  and  other  matters." 

"  I  could  hold  my  head  up  under  two  thousand,  of  a  sar- 
tainty.  I  wish  the  place  was  a  little  nearer  Clawbonny,  say 
eight  or  ten  miles  off;  and  then  I  do  think  I  should  talk  to 
the  people  about  a  trade." 

"  It 's  quite  unnecessary,  after  all.  I  have  quite  as  snug 
a  cove,  near  the  creek  bluff  at  Clawbonny,  and  will  build  a 
house  for  you  there,  you  shall  not  tell  from  a  ship's  cabin ; 
that  would  be  more  to  your  fancy." 

"  I  've  thought  of  that,  too,  Miles,  and  at  one  time  fancied 
it  would  be  a  prettyish  sort  of  an  idee ;  but  it  won't  stand 
logarithms,  at  all.  You  may  build  a  room  that  shall  have 
its  cabin  Zoofc,  but  you  can't  build  one  that  '11  have  a  cabiu 
natur\  You  may  get  carlins,  and  transoms,  and  lockers 
and  bulkheads  all  right ;  but  where  are  you  to  get  your  mo 
tion?  What 's  a  cabin  without  motion  ?  It  would  soon  be 
like  the  sea  in  the  calm  latitudes,  offensive  to  the  senses. 
No !  none  of  your  bloody  motionless  cabins  for  me.  If  1  'm 
afloat,  let  me  be  be  afloat ;  if  I  'm  ashore,  let  me  be  ashore." 

Ashore  we  were  by  this  time,  the  boat's  keel  grinding 
gently  on  the  pebbles  of  the  beach.  We  landed  and  walked 
towards  the  cottage,  there  being  nothing  about  the  place  to 
forbid  our  taking  this  liberty.  I  told  Marble  we  would  ask 
for  a  drink  of  milk,  two  cows  being  in  sight,  cropping  the 
rich  herbage  of  a  beautiful  little  pasture.  This  expedient  at 
first  seemed  unnecessary,  no  one  appearing  about  the  place 
to  question  our  motives,  or  to  oppose  our  progress.  When  we 
reached  the  door  of  the  cottage,  we  found  it  open,  and  could 
look  within  without  violating  any  of  the  laws  of  civilization. 
There  was  no  vestibule,  or  entry ;  but  the  door  communi 
cated  directly  with  a  room  of  some  size,  and  which  occupied 
the  whole  front  of  the  building.  I  dare  say  this  single  room 
was  twenty  feet  square,  besides  bning  of  a  height  a  little 
greater  than  was  then  customary  in  buildings  of  that  class. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  27 

Fhis  apartment  was  neatness  itself.  It  had  a  home-made, 
but  really  pretty,  carpet  on  the  floor ;  contained  a  dozen 
old-fashioned,  high-back  chairs,  in  some  dark  wood ;  two 
or  three  tables,  in  which  one  might  see  his  face ;  a  cou 
ple  of  mirrors  of  no  great  size,  but  of  quaint  gilded  orna 
ments  ;  a  beaufet  with  some  real  china  in  it ;  and  the  other 
usual  articles  of  a  country  residence  that  was  somewhat 
above  the  ordinary  farm-houses  of  the  region,  and  yet  as 
much  below  the  more  modest  of  the  abodes  of  the  higher 
class.  I  supposed  the  cottage  to  be  the  residence  of  some 
small  family  that  had  seen  more  of  life  than  was  customary 
with  the  mere  husbandman,  and  yet  not  enough  to  raise  it 
much  above  the  level  of  the  husbandman's  homely  habits." 

We  were  looking  in  from  the  porch,  on  this  scene  of  rural 
peace  and  faultless  neatness,  when  an  inner  door  opened  in 
the  deliberate  manner  that  betokens  age,  and  the  mistress 
of  the  cottage  appeared.  She  was  a  woman  approaching 
seventy,  of  middle  size,  a  quiet  but  firm  step,  and  an  air  of 
health.  Her  dress  was  of  the  fashion  of  the  previous  cen 
tury,  plain,  but  as  neat  as  everything  around  her — a  spot 
less  white  apron  seeming  to  bid  defiance  to  the  approach  of 
anything  that  could  soil  its  purity.  The  countenance  of  this 
old  woman  certainly  did  not  betoken  any  of  the  refinement 
which  is  the  result  of  education  and  good  company ;  but  it 
denoted  benevolence,  a  kind  nature,  and  feeling.  We  were 
saluted  without  surprise,  and  invited  in,  to  be  seated. 

"  It  isn't  often  that  sloops  anchor  here,"  said  the  old  wo 
man — lady,  it  would  be  a  stretch  of  politeness  to  call  her — 
"  their  favouryte  places  being  higher  up,  and  lower  down, 
the  river." 

"  And  how  do  you  account  for  that,  mother?"  asked  Mar 
ble,  who  seated  himself  and  addressed  the  mistress  of  the 
cottage  with  a  seaman's  frankness.  "  To  my  fancy,  this  is 
the  best  anchorage  I  've  seen  in  many  a  day  ;  one  altogether 
to  be  coveted.  One  might  be  as  much  alone  as  he  liked,  in 
a  spot  like  this,  without  absolutely  turning  your  bloody 
hermit." 

The  old  woman  gazed  at  Marble  like  one  who  scarce 
knew  what  to  make  of  such  an  animal ;  and  yet  her  look 
was  mild  and  indulgent. 

"  I  account  for  the  boatmen's  preferring  other  places  to 


28  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

this,"  she  said,  "  by  the  circumstance  that  there  is  no  tavern 
here  ;  while  there  is  one  two  miles  above,  and  another  two 
miles  below  us." 

"  Your  remark  that  there  is  no  tavern  here,  reminds  me 
of  the  necessity  of  apologizing  for  coming  so  boldly  to  vour 
door,"  I  answered  ;  "  but  we  sailors  mean  no  impertinence, 
though  we  are  so  often  guilty  of  it  in  landing." 

"  You  are  heartily  welcome.  I  am  glad  to  see  them  that 
understand  how  to  treat  an  old  woman  kindly,  and  know 
how  to  pity  and  pardon  them  that  do  not.  At  my  time  of 
life  we  get  to  learn  the  value  of  fair  words  and  good  treat 
ment,  for  it 's  only  a  short  time  it  will  be  in  our  power  to 
show  either  to  our  fellow-creatures." 

"Your  favourable  disposition  to  your  fellows  comes  from 
living  all  your  days  in  a  spot  as  sweet  as  this." 

"  I  would  much  rather  think  that  it  comes  from  God.  He 
alone  is  the  source  of  all  that  is  good  within  us." 

"  Yet  a  spot  like  this  must  have  its  influence  on  a  charac 
ter.  I  dare  say  you  have  lived  long  in  this  very  house, 
which,  old  as  you  profess  to  be,  seems  to  be  much  older 
than  yourself.  It  has  probably  been  your  abode  ever  since 
your  marriage  ?" 

"  And  long  before,  sir.  I  was  born  in  this  house,  as  was 
my  father  before  me.  You  are  right  in  saying  that  I  have 
dwelt  in  it  ever  since  my  marriage,  for  I  dwelt  in  it  long 
before." 

"  This  is  not  very  encouraging  for  my  friend  here,  who 
took  such  a  fancy  to  your  cottage,  as  we  came  ashore,  as  to 
wish  to  own  it ;  but  I  scarce  think  he  will  venture  to  pur 
chase,  now  he  knows  how  dear  it  must  be  to  you." 

"  And  has  your  friend  no  home — no  place  in  which  to  put 
his  family  ?" 

"  Neither  home  nor  family,  my  good  mother."  answered 
Marble  for  himself;  "  and  so  much  the  greater  reason,  you 
iwill  think,  why  I  ought  to  begin  to  think  of  getting  both  as 
soon  as  possible.  I  never  had  father  or  mother,  to  my 
knowledge  ;  nor  house,  nor  home  of  any  sort,  but  a  ship.  I 
forgot ;  I  was  a  hermit  once,  and  set  myself  up  in  that  trade, 
with  a  whole  island  to  myself;  but  I  soon  gave  up  all  to 
natur',  and  got  out  of  that  scrape  as  fast  as  I  could  The 
business  didn't  suit  me." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  29 

The  old  woman  looked  at  Marble  intently.  I  could  see 
by  her  countenance  that  the  off-hand,  sincere,  earnest  man 
ner  oftne  mate  had  taken  some  unusual  hold  of  her  feelings. 

"  Hermit !"  the  good  woman  repeated  with  curiosity ;  '*  I 
have  often  heard  and  read  of  such  people;  but  you  are  not 
at  all  like  them  I  have  fancied  to  be  hermits." 

"  Another  proof  I  undertook  a  business  for  which  I  was 
not  fit.  I  suppose  a  man  before  he  sets  up  for  a  hermit 
ought  to  know  something  of  his  ancestors,  as  one  looks  to 
the  pedigree  of  a  horse  in  order  to  find  out  whether  he  is  fit 
for  a  racer.  Now,  as  I  happen  to  know  nothing  of  mine,  it 
is  no  wonder  I  fell  into  a  mistake.  It 's  an  awkward  thing, 
old  lady,  for  a  man  to  be  born  without  a  name." 

The  eye  of  our  hostess  was  still  bright  and  full  of  anima 
tion,  and  I  never  saw  a  keener  look  than  she  fastened  on  tkj 
mate,  as  he  delivered  himself  in  this,  one  of  his  usual  fits  of 
misanthropical  feeling. 

"  And  were  you  born  without  a  name  ?"  she  asked,  after 
gazing  intently  at  the  other. 

"  Sartain.  Everybody  is  born  with  only  one  name ;  but 
I  happened  to  be  born  without  any  name  at  all." 

"  This  is  so  extr'or'nary,  sir,"  added  our  old  hostess, 
more  interested  than  I  could  have  supposed  possible  for  a 
stranger  to  become  in  Marble's  rough  bitterness,  "  that  I 
should  like  to  hear  how  such  a  thing  could  be." 

"  I  am  quite  ready  to  tell  you  all  about  it,  mother ;  but, 
as  one  good  turn  deserves  another,  I  shall  ask  you  first  to 
answer  me  a  few  questions  about  the  ownership  of  this  house, 
and  cove,  and  orchard.  When  you  have  told  your  story,  I 
am  ready  to  tell  mine." 

"  I  see  how  it  is,"  said  the  old  woman,  in  alarm.  "  You 
are  sent  here  by  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  to  inquire  about  the  money 
due  on  the  mortgage,  and  to  learn  whether  it  is  likely  to  be 
paid  or  not." 

"  We  are  not  sent  here  at  all,  my  good  old  lady,"  I  now 
thought  it  time  to  interpose,  for  the  poor  woman  was  very 
obviously  much  alarmed,  and  in  a  distress  that  even  her 
aged  and  wrinkled  countenance  could  not  entirely  conceal. 
"  We  are  just  what  you  see— people  belonging  to  that  sloop, 
who  have  come  ashore  to  stretch  their  legs,  and  have  never 
3* 


30  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

heard  of  any  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  or  any  money,  or  any  mort 
gage." 

"  Thank  Heaven  for  that !"  exclaimed  the  old  woman, 
seeming  to  relieve  her  mind,  as  well  as  body,  by  a  heavy 
sigh.  "  'Squire  Van  Tassel  is  a  hard  man  ;  and  a  widow 
woman,  with  no  relative  at  hand  but  a  grand-darter  that  is 
just  sixteen,  is  scarce  able  to  meet  him.  My  poor  old  hus 
band  always  maintained  that  the  money  had  been  paid  ;  but, 
now  he  is  dead  and  gone,  'Squire  Van  Tassel  brings  forth 
the  bond  and  mortgage,  and  says,  '  If  you  can  prove  that 
these  are  paid,  I  'm  willing  to  give  them  up.'  " 

"This  is  so  strange  an  occurrence,  my  dear  old  lady,"  I 
observed,  "  that  you  have  only  to  make  us  acquainted  with 
the  facts,  to  get  another  supporter  in  addition  to  your  grand 
daughter.  It  is  true,  I  am  a  stranger,  and  have  come  here 
purely  by  accident ;  but  Providence  sometimes  appears  to 
work  in  this  mysterious  manner,  and  I  have  a  strong  pre 
sentiment  we  may  be  of  use  to  you.  Relate  your  difficul 
ties,  then ;  and  you  shall  have  the  best  legal  advice  in  the 
State,  should  your  case  require  it." 

The  old  woman  seemed  embarrassed ;  but,  at  the  same 
time,  she  seemed  touched.  We  were  utter  strangers  to  her, 
it  is  true ;  yet  there  is  a  language  in  sympathy  which  goes 
beyond  that  of  the  tongue,  and  which,  comingyrom  the  heart, 
goes  to  the  heart.  I  was  quite  sincere  in  my  offers,  and  this 
sincerity  appears  to  have  produced  its  customary  fruits.  I 
was  believed ;  and,  after  wiping  away  a  tear  or  two  that 
forced  themselves  into  her  eyes,  our  hostess  answered  me 
as  frankly  as  I  had  offered  my  aid. 

"  You  do  not  look  like  'Squire  Van  Tassel's  men,  for  they 
seem  to  me  to  think  the  place  is  theirs  already.  Such 
craving,  covetous  creatur's  I  never  before  laid  eyes  on  !  I 
hope  I  may  trust  you  ?" 

"  Depend  on  us,  mother,"  cried  Marble,  giving  the  old 
woman  a  cordial  squeeze  of  the  hand.  "  My  heart  is  in 
this  business,  for  my  mind  was  half  made  up,  at  first  sight, 
to  own  this  spot  myself — by  honest  purchase,  you  '11  under 
stand  me,  and  not  by  any  of  your  land-shark  tricks — and, 
such  being  the  case,  you  can  easily  think  I  'm  not  inclined 
to  let  this  Mr.  Tassel  have  it/1 

"  It  would  be  almost  as  sorrowful  a  thing  to  sell  this 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  31 

place,"  the  good  woman  answered,  her  countenance  con 
firming  all  she  said  in  words,  "  as  to  have  it  torn  from  me 
by  knaves.  I  have  told  you  that  even  my  father  was  born 
in  this  very  house.  I  was  his  only  child ;  and  when  God 
called  him  away,  which  he  did  about  twelve  years  after  my 
marriage,  the  little  farm  came  to  me,  of  course.  Mine  it 
would  have  been  at  this  moment,  without  let  or  hindrance 
of  any  sort,  but  for  a  fault  committed  in  early  youth.  Ah ! 
my  friends,  it  is  hopeless  to  do  evil,  and  expect  to  escape  the 
consequences." 

"  The  evil  you  have  done,  my  good  mother,"  returned 
Marble,  endeavouring  to  console  the  poor  creature,  down 
whose  cheeks  the  tears  now  fairly  began  to  run ;  "  the  evil 
you  have  done,  my  good  mother,  can  be  no  great  matter. 
If  it  was  a  question  about  a  rough  tar  like  myself,  or  even 
of  Miles  there,  who  's  a  sort  of  sea-saint,  something  might 
be  made  of  it,  I  make  no  doubt ;  but  your  account  must  be 
pretty  much  all  credit,  and  no  debtor." 

"  That  is  a  state  that  befalls  none  of  earth,  my  young 
friend," — Marble  was  young,  compared  to  his  companion, 
though  a  plump  fifty, — "  My  sin  was  no  less  than  to  break 
one  of  God's  commandments." 

I  could  see  that  my  mate  was  a  good  deal  confounded  at 
this  ingenuous  admission ;  for,  in  his  eyes,  breaking  the 
commandments  was  either  killing,  stealing,  or  blaspheming. 
The  other  sins  of  the  decalogue  he  had  come  by  habit  to 
regard  as  peccadilloes. 

"  I  think  this  must  be  a  mistake,  mother,"  he  said,  in  a 
sort  of  consoling  tone.  "  You  may  have  fallen  into  some 
oversights,  or  mistakes  ,*  but  this  breaking  of  the  command 
ments  is  rather  serious  sort  of  work." 

u  Yet  I  broke  the  fifth ;  I  forgot  to  honour  my  father  and 
mother.  Nevertheless,  the  Lord  has  been  gracious ;  for  my 
days  have  already  reached  threescore-and-ten.  But  this  is 
His  goodness — not  any  merit  of  my  own  1" 

"  Is  it  not  a  proof  that  the  error  has  been  forgiven?"  I 
ventured  to  remark.  "  If  penitence  can  purchase  peace,  I 
feel  certain  you  have  earned  that  relief." 

"  One  never  knows  !  I  think  this  calamity  of  the  mort 
gage,  and  the  danger  I  run  of  dying  without  a  roof  to  cover 
my  head,  may  be  all  traced  up  to  that  one  act  of  disobedi- 


32  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

enee.  I  have  been  a  mother  myself —  may  say  I  am  a 
mother  now,  for  my  grand-daughter  is  as  dear  to  me  as  was 
her  blessed  mother — and  it  is  when  we  look  dmcn,  rather 
than  when  we  look  up,  as  it  might  be,  that  we  get  to  under 
stand  the  true  virtue  of  this  commandment." 

"  If  it  were  impertinent  curiosity  that  instigates  the  ques 
tion,  my  old  friend,"  I  added,  "  it  would  not  be  in  my  powef 
to  look  you  in  the  face,  as  I  do  now,  while  begging  you  to 
let  me  know  your  difficulties.  Tell  them  in  your  own  man 
ner,  but  tell  them  with  confidence  ;  for,  I  repeat,  we  have 
the  power  to  assist  you,  and  can  command  the  best  legal 
advice  of  the  country." 

Again  the  old  woman  looked  at  me  intently  through  her 
spectacles ;  then,  as  if  her  mind  was  made  up  to  confide  in 
our  honesty,  she  disburdened  it  of  its  secrets. 

"  It  would  be  wrong  to  tell  you  a  part  of  my  story,  with 
out  telling  you  all,"  she  began ;  "  for  you  might  think  Van 
Tassel  and  his  set  are  alone  to  blame,  while  my  conscience 
tells  me  that  little  has  happened  that  is  not  a  just  punishment 
for  my  great  sin.  You  '11  have  patience,  therefore,  with  an 
old  woman,  and  hear  her  whole  tale ;  for  mine  is  not  a  time 
of  life  to  mislead  any.  The  days  of  white-heads  are  num 
bered  ;  and,  was  it  not  for  Kitty,  the  blow  would  not  be  quite 
so  hard  on  me.  You  must  know,  we  are  Dutch  by  origin- 
come  of  the  ancient  Hollanders  of  the  colony — and  were 
Van  Duzers  by  name.  It 's  like,  friends,"  added  the  good 
woman,  hesitating,  "  that  you  are  Yankees  by  birth  ?" 

"  I  cannot  say  I  am,"  I  answered,  "  though  of  English 
extraction.  My  family  is  long  of  New  York,  but  it 
does  not  mount  back  quite  as  far  as  the  time  of  the  Hol 
landers." 

"  And  your  friend  ?  He  is  silent ;  perhaps  he  is  of  New 
England  ?  I  would  not  wish  to  hurt  his  feelings,  for  my 
story  will  bear  a  little  hard,  perhaps,  on  his  love  of  home." 

"  Never  mind  me,  mother,  but  rowse  it  all  up  like  entered 
cargo,"  said  Marble,  in  his  usual  bitter  way  when  alluding 
to  his  own  birth.  "  There 's  not  the  man  breathing  that  one 
can  speak  more  freely  before  on  such  matters,  than  Moses 
Marble." 

"  Marble ! — that 's  a  hard  name,"  returned  the  woman 
slightly  smiling ;  "  but  a  name  is  not  a  heart.  My  parents 


M2LES     WALLING  FORD.  33 

were  Dutch ;  and  you  may  have  heard  how  it  was  before 
the  Revolution,  between  the  Dutch  and  the  Yankees.  Near 
neighbours,  they  did  not  love  each  other.  The  Yankees 
said  the  Dutch  were  fools,  and  the  Dutch  said  the  Yankees 
were  knaves.  Now,  as  you  may  easily  suppose,  I  was  born 
before  the  Revolution,  when  King  George  II.  was  on  the 
throne  and  ruled  the  country ;  and  though  it  was  long  after 
the  English  got  to  be  our  masters,  it  was  before  our  people 
had  forgotten  their  language  and  their  traditions.  My  father 
himself  was  born  after  the  English  governors  came  among 
us,  as  I  've  heard  him  say ;  but  it  mattered  not — he  loved 
Holland  to  the  last,  and  the  customs  of  his  fathers." 

"  All  quite  right,  mother,"  said  Marble,  a  little  impatient- 
ly  ;  "  but  what  of  all  that?  It 's  as  nat'ral  for  a  Dutchman 
to  love  Holland,  as  it  is  for  an  Englishman  to  love  Hollands. 
I  've  been  in  the  Low  Countries,  and  must  say  it 's  a  musk- 
rat  sort  of  a  life  the  people  lead ;  neither  afloat  nor  ashore." 

The  old  woman  regarded  Marble  with  more  respect  after 
this  declaration  ;  for  in  that  day,  a  travelled  man  was  highly 
esteemed  among  us.  In  her  eyes,  it  was  a  greater  exploit 
to  have  seen  Amsterdam,  than  it  would  now  be  to  visit  Jeru 
salem.  Indeed,  it  is  getting  rather  discreditable  to  a  man 
of  the  world  not  to  have  seen  the  Pyramids,  the  Red  Sea, 
and  the  Jordan. 

"  My  father  loved  it  not  the  less,  though  he  never  saw 
the  land  of  his  ancestors,"  resumed  the  old  woman.  "  Not 
withstanding  the  jealousy  of  the  Yankees,  among  us  Dutch, 
and  the  mutual  dislike,  many  of  the  former  came  among  us 
to  seek  their  fortunes.  They  are  not  a  home-staying  people, 
it  would  seem  ;  and  I  cannot  deny  that  cases  have  happened 
in  which  they  have  been  known  to  get  away  the  farms  of 
some  of  the  Netherlands  stock,  in  a  way  that  it  would  have 
been  better  not  to  have  happened." 

"  You  speak  considerately,  my  dear  woman,"  I  remarked, 
"  and  like  one  that  has  charity  for  all  human  failing." 

"  I  ought  to  do  so  for  my  own  sins,  and  I  ought  to  do  so 
to  them  of  New  England  :  for  my  own  husband  was  of  that 
race." 

"  Ay,  now  the  story  is  coming  round  regularly,  Miles," 
said  Marble,  nodding  his  head  in  approbation.  "  It  will  touch 
on  love  next,  and,  if  trouble  do  not  follow,  set  me  down  as 


34  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

an  ill-nat'red  old  bachelor.  Love  in  a  man's  heart  is  like 
getting  heated  cotton,  or  shifting  ballast,  into  a  ship's  hold." 

"  I  must  confess  to  it,"  continued  our  hostess,  smiling  in 
spite  of  her  real  sorrows — sorrows  that  were  revived  by  thus 
recalling  the  events  of  her  early  life — "  a  young  man  of 
Yankee  birth  came  among  us  as  a  schoolmaster,  when  I 
was  only  fifteen.  Our  people  were  anxious  enough  to  have 
us  all  taught  to  read  English,  for  many  had  found  the  dis 
advantage  of  being  ignorant  of  the  language  of  their  rulers, 
and  of  the  laws.  I  was  sent  to  George  Wetmore's  school, 
like  most  of  the  other  young  people  of  the  neighbourhood, 
and  remained  his  scholar  for  three  years.  If  you  were  on 
the  hill  above  the  orchard  yonder,  you  might  see  the  school- 
house  at  this  moment ;  for  it  is  only  a  short  walk  from  our 
place,  and  a  walk  that  I  made  four  times  a  day  for  just  threo 
years." 

"  One  can  see  how  the  land  lies  now,"  cried  Marble,  light- 
ing  a  segar,  for  he  thought  no  apology  necessary  for  smok 
ing  under  a  Dutch  roof.  "  The  master  taught  his  scholar 
something  more  than  he  found  in  the  spelling-book,  or  the 
catechism.  We  '11  take  your  word  about  the  school- house, 
seeing  it  is  out  of  view." 

"  It  was  out  of  sight,  truly,  and  that  may  have  been  th« 
reason  my  parents  took  it  so  hard  when  George  Wetmore 
asked  their  leave  to  marry  me.  This  was  not  done  until  ha 
had  walked  home  with  me,  or  as  near  home  as  the  brow  of 
yon  hill,  for  a  whole  twelvemonth,  and  had  served  a  servi 
tude  almost  as  long,  and  as  patient,  as  that  of  Jacob  for 
Rachel." 

"  Well,  mother,  how  did  the  old  people  receive  the  ques 
tion?  like  good-natured  parents,  I  hope,  for  George's  sake." 

"  Rather  say  like  the  children  of  Holland,  judging  of  the 
children  of  New  England.  They  would  not  hear  of  it,  but 
wished  me  to  marry  my  own  cousin,  Petrus  Storm,  who  was 
not  greatly  beloved  even  in  his  own  family." 

"  Of  course  you  down  anchor,  and  said  you  never  would 
quit  the  moorings  of  home  ?" 

"  If  I  rightly  understand  you,  sir,  I  did  something  very 
different.  I  got  privately  married  to  George,  and  he  kept 
school  near  a  twelvemonth  longer,  up  behind  the  hill,  though 


MILES     WALLINGFO&D.  35 

most  of  the  young  women  were  taken  away  from  his 
teaching." 

"  Ay,  the  old  way ;  the  door  was  locked  after  the  horse 
was  stolen  !  Well,  you  were  married,  mother " 

"  After  a  time,  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  visit  a  kinswo 
man  who  lived  a  little  down  the  river.  There  my  first  child 
was  born,  unknown  to  my  parents ;  and  George  gave  it  in 
charge  to  a  poor  woman  who  had  lost  her  own  babe,  for  we 
were  still  afraid  to  let  our  secret  be  known  to  my  parents. 
Now  commenced  the  punishment  for  breaking  the  fifth 
commandment." 

"How's  that,  Miles?"  demanded  Moses.  "Is  it  ag'in 
the  commandments  for  a  married  woman  to  have  a  son  ?" 

"  Certainly  not,  my  friend  ;  though  it  is  a  breach  of  the 
commandments  not  to  honour  our  parents.  This  good  wo 
man  alludes  to  her  marrying  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  her 
father  and  mother." 

"  Indeed  I  do,  sir,  and  dearly  have  I  been  punished  for  it. 
In  a  few  weeks  I  returned  home,  and  was  followed  by  the 
sad  news  of  the  death  of  my  first-born.  The  grief  of  these 
tidings  drew  the  secret  from  me ;  and  nature  spoke  so  loud 
in  the  hearts  of  my  poor  parents,  that  they  forgave  all,  took 
George  home,  and  ever  afterwards  treated  him  as  if  he  also 
had  been  their  own  child.  But  it  was  too  late ;  had  it  hap 
pened  a  few  weeks  earlier,  my  own  precious  babe  might 
have  been  saved  to  me." 

"  You  cannot  know  that,  mother ;  we  all  die  when  our 
time  comes." 

"  His  time  had  not  come.  The  miserable  wretch  to  whom 
George  trusted  the  boy,  exposed  him  among  strangers,  to 
save  herself  trouble,  and  to  obtain  twenty  dollars  at  as  chea~ 
a  rate  as  possible " 

"  Hold !"  I  interrupted.  "  In  the  name  of  Heaven,  m} 
good  woman,  in  what  year  did  this  occur  ?" 

Marble  looked  at  me  in  astonishment,  though  he  clearly 
had  glimpses  of  the  object  of  my  question. 

"  It  was  in  the  month  of  June,  17 — .  For  thirty  long,  long 
years,  I  supposed  my  child  had  actually  died ;  and  then  the 
mere  force  of  conscience  told  me  the  truth.  The  wretched 
woman  could  not  carry  the  secret  with  her  into  the  gravo, 
and  she  sent  for  me  to  he^ir  the  sad  revelation*" 


36  MILES     WALLINGFORD 

"  Which  was  to  say  that  she  left  the  child  in  a  basket,  on 
a  tomb-stone,  in  a  marble-worker's  yard,  in  town ;  in  the 
yard  of  a  man  whose  name  was  Durfee?"  I  said,  as  rapidly 
as  I  could  speak. 

"  She  did,  indeed !  though  it  is  a  marvel  to  me  that  a 
stranger  should  know  this.  What  will  be  God's  pleasure 
next!" 

Marble  groaned.  He  hid  his  face  in  his  hands,  while  the 
poor  woman  looked  from  one  of  us  to  the  other,  in  bewil 
dered  expectation  of  what  was  to  follow.  I  could  not  leave 
jier  long  in  doubt ;  but,  preparing  her  for  what  was  to  fol 
low,  by  little  and  little  I  gave  her  to  understand  that  the  man 
she  saw  before  her  was  her  son.  After  half  a  century  of 
separation,  the  mother  and  child  had  thus  been  thrown  toge 
ther  by  the  agency  of  an  inscrutable  Providence!  The 
reader  will  readily  anticipate  the  character  of  the  explana 
tions  that  succeeded.  Of  the  truth  of  the  circumstances 
there  could  not  be  a  shadow  of  doubt,  when  everything  was 
related  and  compared.  Mrs.  Wetmore  had  ascertained  from 
her  unfaithful  nurse  the  history  of  her  child  as  far  as  the 
alms-house ;  but  thirty  years  had  left  a  gap  in  the  informa 
tion  she  received,  and  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  obtain  the 
name  under  which  he  had  left  that  institution.  The  Revo 
lution  was  just  over  when  she  made  her  application,  and  it 
was  thought  that  some  of  the  books  had  been  taken  away  by 
a  refugee.  Still,  there  were  a  plenty  of  persons  to  supply 
traditions  and  conjecture ;  and  so  anxious  were  she  and  her 
husband  to  trace  these  groundless  reports  to  their  confirma 
tion  or  refutation,  that  much  money  and  time  were  thrown 
away  in  the  fruitless  attempts.  At  length,  one  of  the  old 
attendants  of  the  children's  department  was  discovered,  who 
professed  to  know  the  whole  history  of  the  child  brought 
from  the  stone-cutter's  yard.  This  woman  doubtless  was 
honest,  but  her  memory  had  deceived  her.  She  said  that 
the  boy  had  been  called  Stone,  instead  of  Marble ;  a  mistake 
that  was  natural  enough  in  itself,  but  which  was  probably 
owing  to  the  fact  that  another  child  of  the  first  name  had 
really  left  the  institution  a  few  months  before  Moses  took  his 
leave.  This  Aaron  Stone  had  been  traced,  first,  as  an  ap 
prentice  to  a  tradesman ;  thence  into  a  regiment  of  foot  in 


MILES     WALLlNGFORD.  37 

the  British  army,  which  regiment  had  accompanied  the  rest 
of  the  forces,  at  the  evacuation,  November  25th,  1783. 

The  Wetmores  fancied  they  were  now  on  the  track  of 
their  child.  He  was  traced  down  to  a  period  within  a  twelve 
month  of  that  of  the  search,  and  was  probably  to  be  found 
in  England,  still  wearing  the  livery  of  the  king.  After  a 
long  consultation  between  the  disconsolate  parents,  it  was 
determined  that  George  Wetmore  should  sail  for  England 
in  the  hope  of  recovering  their  son.  But,  by  this  time,  mo 
ney  was  scarce.  These  worthy  people  were  enabled  to  live 
in  comfort  on  their  little  farm,  but  they  were  not  rich  in 
cash.  All  the  loose  coin  was  gone  in  the  previous  search, 
and  even  a  small  debt  had  been  contracted  to  enable  them 
to  proceed  as  far  as  they  had.  No  alternative  remained  but 
to  mortgage  their  home.  This  was  done  with  great  reluc 
tance  ;  but  what  will  not  a  parent  do  for  his  child  1  A  coun 
try  lawyer,  of  the  name  of  Van  Tassel,  was  ready  enough 
to  advance  five  hundred  on  a  place  that  was  worth  quite 
three  thousand  dollars.  This  man  was  one  of  the  odious 
class  of  country  usurers,  a  set  of  cormorants  that  is  so  much 
worse  than  their  town  counterparts,  because  their  victims 
are  usually  objects  of  real,  and  not  speculative  distress,  and 
as  ignorant  and  unpractised  as  they  are  necessitous.  It  is 
wonderful  with  what  far-sighted  patience  one  of  these 
wretches  will  bide  his  time,  in  order  to  effect  a  favourite 
acquisition.  Mrs.  Wetmore's  little  farm  was  very  desirable 
to  this  'Squire  Van  Tassel,  for  reasons  in  addition  to  its 
intrinsic  value ;  and  for  years  nothing  could  be  kinder  and 
more  neighbourly  than  his  indulgence.  Interest  was  allowed 
to  accumulate,  until  the  whole  debt  amounted  to  the  sum  of 
a  thousand  dollars.  In  the  mean  time  the  father  went  to 
England,  found  the  soldier  after  much  trouble  and  expense, 
ascertained  that  Stone  knew  his  parents,  one  of  whom  had 
died  in  the  alms-house,  and  spent  all  his  money. 

Years  of  debt  and  anxiety  succeeded,  until  the  father  sunk 
under  his  misfortunes.  An  only  daughter  also  died,  leaving 
Kitty  a  legacy  to  her  widowed  mother,  the  other  parent  hav 
ing  died  even  before  her  birth.  Thus  was  Katharine  Van 
Duzer,  our  old  hostess,  left  to  struggle  on  nearly  alone,  at 
the  decline  of  life,  with  a  poverty  that  was  daily  increasing, 
years,  and  this  infant  grand-daughter.  Just  before  his 
4 


38  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

death,  however,  George  Wetmore  had  succeeded  in  selling 
a  portion  of  his  farm,  that  which  was  least  valuable  to  him 
self,  and  with  the  money  he  paid  off  Van  Tassel's  mortgage. 
This  was  his  own  account  of  the  matter,  and  he  showed  to 
his  wife  Van  Tassel's  receipt,  the  money  having  been  paid 
at  the  county  town,  where  the  bond  and  mortgage  could  not 
be  then  produced.  This  was  shortly  before  Wetmore's  las.' 
illness.  A  twelvemonth  after  his  death,  the  widow  was  ad 
vised  to  demand  the  bond,  and  to  take  the  mortgage  off 
record.  But  the  receipt  was  not  to  be  found.  With  a  wo 
man's  ignorance  of  such  matters,  the  widow  let  this  fact 
leak  out ;  and  her  subsequent  demand  for  the  release  was 
met  with  a  counter  one  for  evidence  of  payment.  This  was 
the  commencement  of  Van  Tassel's  hostile  attitude ;  and 
things  had  gone  as  far  as  a  foreclosure,  and  an  advertisement 
for  a  sale,  when  the  good  woman  thus  opportunely  discovered 
her  son ! 


CHAPTER   III. 

I  charge  you  by  the  law, 
Whereof  you  are  a  well-deserving  pillar, 
Proceed  to  judgment :  by  my  soul  I  swear 
There  is  no  power  in  the  tongue  of  man 
To  alter  me :  I  stay  here  on  my  bond. 

Shylock. 

IT  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  immediate  effect  of  this  dis 
covery  on  either  of  the  parties  most  concerned.  Not  a 
doubt  remained  on  the  mind  of  either,  after  the  facts  were 
explained,  of  the  reality  of  the  relationship;  for  that  was  so 
simply  proved,  as  to  place  the  circumstance  beyond  all  dis 
pute.  Mrs.  Wetmore  thought  of  her  lost  son  as  of  an  inno 
cent  smiling  babe ;  and  here  she  found  him  a  red-faced,  hard- 
featured,  weather-beaten  tar,  already  verging  towards  age, 
and  a  man  of  manners  that  were  rough,  if  not  rude.  She 
could  not  at  first  possess  any  knowledge  of  the  better  points 
in  his  character,  and  was  compelled  to  receive  this  boon 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  39 

from  Providence  as  it  was  offered.  Nevertheless,  a  mother's 
love  is  not  easily  dissatisfied,  or  smothered ;  and,  ere  I  left 
the  house,  I  could  see  the  old  woman's  eyes  fixed  on  Marble 
with  an  expression  of  interest  and  tenderness  they  had  not 
manifested  previously  to  the  revelations. 

As  for  the  mate  himself,  now  that  the  fondest  wish  of  his 
life  was  so  unexpectedly  gratified,  he  was  taken  so  much  by 
surprise  that  he  appeared  to  think  something  was  wanting. 
He  found  his  mother  the  reputable  widow  of  a  reputable 
man,  of  a  class  in  life  quite  equal  to  his  own,  living  on  a 
property  that  was  small,  certainly,  and  involved,  but  pro 
perty  that  had  been  long  in  her  family.  The  truth  was, 
Marble  felt  so  much  at  this  unlooked-for  appeal  to  his 
gentler  feelings,  that  one  of  his  stern  nature  did  not  know 
how  to  answer  it  on  the  emergency ;  and  the  obstinacy  of 
his  temperament  rather  induced  him  to  resist,  than  to  yield 
to  such  unwonted  sentiments.  I  could  see  he  was  satisfied 
with  his  mother,  while  he  was  scarcely  satisfied  with  him 
self;  and,  with  a  view  to  place  both  parties  in  truer  positions, 
I  desired  Moses  to  walk  down  and  look  at  the  boat,  while  I 
remained  alone  with  his  new-found  parent.  This  was  not 
done,  however,  until  all  the  explanations  had  been  made, 
and  the  mother  had  both  blessed  and  wept  over  her  child. 
It  was  done,  indeed,  principally  to  relieve  Marble  from  the 
oppression  of  feeling  created  by  this  very  scene. 

As  soon  as  alone  with  Mrs.  Wetmore,  I  explained  to  her 
my  own  connection  with  Marble,  and  gave  her  a  sort  of 
apologetic  account  of  his  life  and  character,  keeping  down 
the  weak  points,  and  dwelling  on  the  strong.  I  set  her  mind 
at  ease,  at  once,  on  the  subject  of  the  farm ;  for,  should  the 
worst  happen,  her  son  had  double  the  amount  of  money  that 
would  be  necessary  to  discharge  the  mortgage. 

"  The  debt  was  incurred,  my  dear  Mrs.  Wetmore,  in  his 
behalf;  and  he  will  be  happy  to  discharge  it  on  the  spot.  I 
would  advise  you  to  pay  the  money  at  once.  Should  the 
receipt  ever  be  found,  this  Van  Tassel  will  be  obliged  to 
refund  ;  for,  though  the  law  winks  at  many  wrongs,  it  will 
not  wink  at  one  so  atrocious  as  this,  provided  you  can  satisfy 
It  with  proof.  I  shall  leave  Moses " 

'*  His  name  is  Oloff,  or  Oliver,  interrupted  the  old  woman 
eagerly  •  "  I  named  him  after  my  own  father,  and  had  him 


40  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

duly  christened,  before  he  was  entrusted  to  the  nurse,  in  tho 
hope  it  might  soften  his  grandfather's  heart,  when  he  came 
to  know  of  my  marriage.  Oloff  Van  Duzer  Wetmore  is  his 
real  name." 

I  smiled  to  think  of  Marble's  sailing  under  such  an  appel 
lation,  and  was  about  to  suggest  a  compromise,  when  the 
subject  of  our  discourse  returned.  The  mate  had  regained 
his  composure  during  the  half-hour  he  had  been  absent ;  ana 
I  saw  by  the  kind  glance  he  threw  on  his  mother,  whose 
look  answered  his  own  more  naturally  than  I  could  have 
hoped,  that  things  were  getting  right ;  and,  by  way  of  re 
moving  the  awkwardness  of  excessive  sensibility,  I  pursued 
the  discourse. 

"  We  were  talking  of  your  true  name,  Moses,  as  you 
came  in,"  I  said.  "  It  will  never  do  for  you  to  hail  by  one 
Dame,  while  your  mother  hails  by  another.  You  '11  have  to 
cut  adrift  from  Moses  Marble  altogether." 

"  If  I  do,  may  I  be " 

"  Hush,  hush — you  forget  where  you  are,  and  in  whose 
presence  you  stand." 

"  I  hope  my  son  will  soon  learn  that  he  is  always  in  the 
presence  of  his  God,"  observed  the  mother,  plaintively. 

"  Ay,  ay — that 's  all  right,  mother,  and  you  shall  do  with 
me  just  what  you  please  in  any  of  them  matters ;  but  as  for 
not  being  Moses  Marble,  you  might  as  well  ask  me  not  to 
be  myself.  I  should  be  another  man,  to  change  my  name. 
A  fellow  might  as  well  go  without  clothes,  as  go  without  a 
name ;  and  mine  came  so  hard,  I  don't  like  to  part  with  it. 
No,  no — had  it  come  to  pass,  now,  that  my  parents  had  been 
a  king  and  a  queen,  and  that  I  was  to  succeed  'em  on  the 
throne,  I  should  reign  as  King  Moses  Marble,  or  not  reign 
at  all." 

"  You  '11  think  better  of  this,  and  take  out  a  new  register 
under  your  lawful  designation." 

"  I  '11  tell  you  what  I  '11  do,  mother,  and  that  will  satisfy 
all  parties.  I  '11  bend  on  the  old  name  to  the  new  one,  and 
sail  under  both." 

"  I  care  not  how  you  are  called,  my  son,  so  long  as  no 
one  has  need  to  blush  for  the  name  you  bear.  This  gentle 
man  tells  me  you  are  an  honest  and  true-hearted  man  ,*  and 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  41 

those  are  blessings  for  which  I  shall  never  cease  to  thank 
God." 

"  Miles  has  been  singing  my  praises,  has  he  !  I  can  tell 
you,  mother,  you  had  need  look  out  for  Miles's  tongue 
Natur'  intended  him  for  a  lawyer,  and  it 's  mere  accident 
his  being  a  sailor,  though  a  capital  one  he  is.  But  what 
may  be  my  name,  according  to  law  ?" 

"  OlofF  Van  Duser  Wetmore  Moses  Marble,  according  to 
your  own  expedient  of  sailing  under  all  your  titles.  You 
can  ring  the  changes,  however,  and  call  yourself  Moses 
Oloff  Marble  Van  Duser  Wetmore,  if  you  like  that  better." 

Moses  laughed,  and  as  I  saw  that  both  he  and  his  new 
found  mother  were  in  a  fit  state  to  be  left  together,  and  that 
the  sun  now  wanted  but  an  hour  or  two  of  setting,  I  rose  to 
take  my  leave. 

"  You  will  remain  with  your  mother  to-night,  Marble,"  I 
observed.  "  I  will  keep  the  sloop  at  an  anchor  until  I  can 
see  you  in  the  morning,  when  we  will  settle  the  future  a 
little  more  deliberately." 

"  I  should  not  like  to  lose  my  son  so  soon  after  finding 
him,"  the  old  woman  anxiously  remarked. 

"  No  fear  of  me,  mother — I  berth  under  your  roof  to 
night,  and  so  many  more  in  the  bargain,  that  you  '11  be  glad 
enough  to  be  rid  of  me  in  the  end." 

I  then  left  the  house,  followed  by  Marble,  towards  the 
boat.  As  we  reached  the  little  piece  of  bottom-land,  I  heard 
a  sort  of  suppressed  sob  from  the  mate,  and,  turning  round, 
was  surprised  to  see  the  tears  running  down  his  sun-burned 
cheeks.  His  wrought-up  feelings  had  at  last  obtained  the 
mastery ;  and  this  rude,  but  honest  creature,  had  fairly  given 
in,  under  the  excitement  of  this  strange  admixture  of  joy, 
wonder,  shame,  and  natural  emotion.  I  took  his  hand,  gave 
it  a  hearty  squeeze,  but  said  nothing ;  though  I  stopped,  un 
willing  to  go  nearer  to  Neb  until  my  companion  had  re 
gained  his  composure.  This  he  did,  sufficiently  to  speak, 
in  the  course  of  a  minute  or  two. 

"It's  all  like  a  dream  to  me,  Miles,"  Moses  at  length 
muttered — "  more  out  of  natur'  like,  than  setting  up  for  a 
hermit." 

"  You  Ml  soon  get  accustomed  to  the  change,  Marble ;  then 
everything  will  seem  in  the  ordinary  way,  and  natural." 
4* 


42  MILES     \\ALLINGFORD. 

"  To  think  of  my  being  a  son,  and  having  a  real,  living 
mother !" 

"  You  must  have  known  that  you  had  parents  once, 
though  you  are  fortunate  in  finding  one  of  them  alive  at 
your  time  of  life." 

"  And  she  an  honest  woman !  A  mother  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  or  the  first  commodore  in  the  navy, 
needn't  be  ashamed  of!" 

"  All  that  is  fortunate,  certainly ;  especially  the  first." 

"  She 's  a  bloody  good-looking  old  woman  in  the  bargain. 
I  '11  have  her  dressed  up  and  carry  her  down  to  town,  the 
first  opportunity." 

"  What  would  you  give  an  old  woman  that  trouble  for  ? 
You  Ml  think  better  of  these  matters,  in  the  long  run." 

"  Better !  Yes,  I  '11  take  her  to  Philadelphia,  and  perhaps 
to  Baltimore.  There 's  the  gardens,  and  the  theatres,  and 
the  museums,  and  lots  of  things  that  I  dare  say  the  dear  old 
soul  never  laid  eyes  on." 

"  I  'm  mistaken  in  your  mother,  if  she  would  not  prefer 
a  church  to  all  of  them  put  together." 

"  Well,  there  's  churches  in  all  of  them  towns.  Put  it  on 
a  religious  footing,  if  you  will,  and  I  ought  to  take  my  mo 
ther  as  soon  as  possible  down  to  York.  She 's  old,  you  see, 
and  cannot  live  for  ever,  just  to  oblige  me ;  and  here  has 
she  been  tied  down  to  one  church  all  her  days,  giving  her 
no  ch'ice  nor  opportunity.  I  dare  say,  now,  variety  is  just 
as  agreeable  in  religion,  as  in  anything  else." 

"  You  are  nearer  right  there,  Moses,  than  you  think  your 
self,  possibly.  But  we  can  talk  of  all  these  things  to-mor 
row.  A  good  night's  rest  will  give  us  cooler  heads  in  the 
morning." 

"  I  shall  not  sleep  a  wink  for  thinking  of  it.  No,  no— 
I  '11  make  the  old  lady  pack  up  before  breakfast,  and  we  '11 
sail  in  the  sloop.  I  '11  take  her  aboard  the  Dawn  with  me 
in  town,  and  a  comfortable  time  we'll  have  of  it  in  her 
cabins.  She  has  as  good  state-rooms  as  a  yacht." 

There  were  no  liners  in  those  days ;  but  a  ship  with  two 
cabins  was  a  miracle  of  convenience. 

"  Your  mother  will  hardly  suit  a  ship,  Moses ;  and  a  ship 
will  hardly  suit  your  mother." 

" How  can  any  of  us  know  that  till  we  try?    If  I'm  a 


MILES     WALL1NGFORD.  43 

chip  of  the  old  block,  they  '11  take  to  each  other  like  rum 
and  water.  If  I  'm  to  go  out  in  the  ship,  I  'm  far  from  cer 
tain  I  '11  not  take  the  old  woman  to  sea  with  me." 

"  You  '11  probably  remain  at  home,  now  that  you  have  a 
home,  and  a  mother,  and  other  duties  to  attend  to.  I  and 
my  concerns  will  be  but  secondary  objects  with  you  here 
after,  Mr.  Wetmore." 

"  Wetmore  be  d — d  !  D'ye  mean,  Miles,  that  I  'm  to  give 
up  my  calling,  give  up  the  sea,  give  up  you  ?" 

"  You  wished  to  be  a  hermit  once,  and  found  it  a  little  too 
solitary  ;  had  you  a  companion  or  two,  you  would  have  been 
satisfied,  you  said,  Well,  here  is  everything  you  can  wish  ; 
a  mother,  a  niece,  a  house,  a  farm,  barns,  out-houses,  garden 
and  orchard ;  and,  seated  on  that  porch,  you  can  smoke 
segars,  take  your  grog,  look  at  the  craft  going  up  and  down 
the  Hudson " 

"  Nothing  but  so  many  bloody  sloops,"  growled  the  mate. 
"  Such  in-and-in  fore-and-afters  that  their  booms  won't  stay 
guyed-out,  even  after  you  've  been  at  the  pains  to  use  a 
hawser." 

"  Well,  a  sloop  is  a  pleasant  object  to  a  sailor,  when  he 
can  get  nothing  better.  Then  there  is  this  Mr.  Van  Tassel 
to  settle  with — you  may  have  a  ten  years'  law-suit  on  your 
hands,  to  amuse  you." 

"  I  Ml  make  short  work  with  that  scamp,  when  I  fall  in 
with  him.  You  're  right  enough,  Miles  ;  that  affair  must  be 
settled  before  I  can  lift  an  anchor.  My  mother  tells  me  he 
lives  hard  by,  and  can  be  seen,  at  any  moment,  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour.  I  Ml  pay  him  a  visit  this  very  night." 

This  declaration  caused  me  to  pause.  I  knew  Marble  too 
well,  not  to  foresee  trouble  if  he  were  left  to  himself  in  a 
matter  of  this  nature,  and  thought  it  might  be  well  to  inquire 
further  into  the  affair.  Sailors  do  everything  off-hand.  Mrs. 
Wetmore  telling  me  that  her  son's  statement  was  true,  on 
my  going  back  to  the  house  to  question  her  in  the  matter, 
and  offering  us  the  use  of  an  old-fashioned  one-horse  chaise, 
that  the  only  farm-labourer  she  employed  was  just  then  get 
ting  ready  to  go  in,  in  quest  of  Kitty,  I  availed  myself  of  the 
opportunity,  took  the  printed  advertisement  of  the  sale  to 
read  as  we  went  along,  obtained  our  directions,  and  off  Mar 
We  and  I  went  in  quest  of  the  usurer. 


(4  WILES 

*Tfa*mvM}*9da*a^1^tormUaarpmtvoK  It  a 
tree  that  the  horse,  She  the  house,  its  owner,  the  labourer, 
the  chaise,  and  afl  we  had  ^t  sen  about  Willow  Core,  as 
w*  had  fc^rocd  the  place  ww  calkd,  was  oM;  but  be  was 
the  more  sale  and  sum  The  reud  led  up  the  ascent  by  « 

Uboorer  walking  by  our  skfe  to  point  out 


The  Tiew  firm  die  height,  as  it  aught  be  tenued  in  refer- 

ice  to  the  rirer.  thoarfi  it  was  merely  on  the  terrf  of  the 


hi  that  pmtiun  of  the  State,  was  both 


ami  uvcfly*     w^iuuw1  vrroTe.  us 


war  up  the  ascent,  looked  nwr 

-     *  * 

:  :i    rrrr.iris. 

:f  :'--:    :  -: 


rouo^ahamk*withmaiuileofus,an       

i  •liufui  her  liiiitiii^  church-spire,  and  various  bouses  of 
wood  painted  whue,  with  here  and  diere  a  piece  of  rustic 

:.-':  '-.'  .::  ;:.:-~;.  :*  r  :.  "  -  -"  "•"•'"•"  .--"•-.  -"  >---•? 
fi^faT'pdnt;  for  the  DuwJi  of  New  York  hud  bought  the 
habits  of  HoBandwidi  them,  defightoff  in  cofcours.  This 

refief  may  be  desirable  n  a  part  of  the  world  where  the 

•  i  ^  "*  - 

•r'-mi.    JT->f  ~     '.'.'.'-.    ~.~.~.  '.'.-'-'  5    -  -    ^   --"• 

'•"_*  >:*"i  ~  "• ""."-:  z~"^~-~  -'•  -''•'•    "^  ~ -^  '• 

r.z*5   : :  *."-  r/  :  "-.  :-.  "  .7. :  '..  T-:  ~~.  :z?  •::  "-" .-:- 

it  dbnntr.  or  thg  #uh*i»i  hugs  Ant  so  often  ludbr  the  love- 
Invwc  of  a  Tiew  hnpresave,  as  weH  as  sweet.  When  this 

jaches  the  icncea,  it  gfres  the  prettiegt  land. 

air  of  a  bienching-yard,  or  of  a  great  laundry, 

M  the  clothes  hung  out  to  dr 

The  guide  pointed  out  to  us  the  house  of  Van  Tassel,  und 
another  at  which  we  should  find  Kitty,  who  was  to  be 
brought  hone  by  us  on  our  return.  Understanding  the 

^^-  ^-^    :..  >-     '.  :--  TV.-     -:,:V:    '.:   :":«:>-::' 

f-Vj-  -:  i'~--,  :-'    '     :  -   -    >--     -  •      --  -"-r  "    '-   :    -:   :: 


KJLE£     WAillJT  670B.D 

I  succeeded  in 


ii  would  not  be  wisest  to  break  ground  by  floggiog  the  at- 
tomey— a  pfocedare  to  which  he  was  strongly  iactined.    It 


jetlleJ,  however,  be  w^s  at  once  to  declare 
be  Mis.  Wetoxxe's  son,  and  to  demand  his  expfc 
that  character;  one  that  would  dearly  gjre  him  etery 
lobe  heard. 

I  know  what  these  usurers,  as  TOO  caH  'em,  Me* 


be,"  said  the  mate.  u  They  are  a  sort  of  in-shore  pawn 
brokers;  and  the  Lord  haTe  mercy  on  them,  for  III  i  - 
none.  I  Ve  had  occasion  to  pawn  a  watch,  or  a  y»1i*Ht, 
in  mv  time;  and  bloody  poor  prices  does  a  feflow  get  for 
his  goods  and  chattels.  Yes,  yes ;  IH  let  the  old  gentleman 
know,  at  eoce,  I'm  Van  Dozer  OWT  Marble  Wetmore 
Moses,  or  whaterer's  my  name;  and  wffl  stand  op  for  the 
right  in  a  fashion  that  wffl  surprise  him :  bat  what  are  yon 
to  do  in  the  mean  time?71 

k  struck  me,  if  I  coold  get  Marble  to  attempt  practoiag  » 
sort  of  rwr,  *  would  haw  the  effect  to  prevent  his  resorting 
to  club-law,  towards  which  I  knew  he  had  a  strong  natural 
deposition,  and  of  which  I  was  stffl  a  little  afraid.  With 
this  object,  then,  I  cono-ired  the  following  s 
"  Too  shall  simply  introduce  me  as  Mr. 
ford,"  I  said,  "hot  in  a  formal 
this  Mr.  Van  Tassel  to  imagine  I'm  a  sort  of  lawyer ; 
this  may  hare  the  efiect  to  awe  him,  and  bring  him  to  * 
the  easier.  Do  not  tay  I  am  a  lawyer,  for  that  wffl  not  be 
tree,  and  it  wffl  also  be  awkward  fcffing  hack  when  the 
troth  comes  to  be  known." 

Marble  took  the  idea,  and  seemed  pleased  wifc  k,  though 
he  affirmed  that  there  could  be  no  such  thing  as  acting  law- 
yer  without  lying  a  Me,  and  that  « the  troth  wastoo  good 
for  one  of  TOOT  bloody  osorers,"  I  got  him  trained,  how- 
eier,  by  the  time  we  reached  the  door;  and  we  afigftftrf  as 
---:..  :---:  .': :  :.:  i-:  is  : :  -  :  >:  -:-:-: 

There  was  nothing  about  the  residence  of  *Sqoire  Van 
Tassel  to  denote  the  grasping  money-dealer,  oafess  acer- 
tain  negligence  of  the  exterior  might  be  su^wbed  to  betray 
the  abode  of  such  a  man.  Hb  friends  wished  toasente 
this  to  an  indinerence  to  appearances ;  hot  the  asJlilmir, 
moreaccurately  imputed  it  to  parsunony.  When  the  nerysoal 


46  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

gets  to  be  absorbed  in  the  process  of  rolling  gold  over  and 
over,  in  order  to  make  it  accumulate,  the  spirit  grudges  the 
withdrawal  of  the  smallest  fraction  from  the  gainful  pursuit ; 
and  here  lies  the  secret  of  the  disdain  of  appearances  that 
is  so  generally  to  be  met  with  in  this  description  of  persons. 
Beyond  this  air  of  negligence,  however,  the  dwelling  of  Van 
Tassel  was  not  to  be  distinguished  from  those  of  most  of  the 
better  houses  of  that  part  of  the  country.  Our  application 
for  admission  was  favourably  received,  and,  in  a  minute,  we 
were  shown  into  the  attorney's  office. 

'Squire  Van  Tassel,  as  this  man  was  universally  termed, 
eyed  us  keenly  as  we  entered,  no  doubt  with  a  view  to 
ascertain  if  we  were  borrowers.  I  might  possibly  have 
passed  for  one  of  that  character,  for  I  aimed  at  looking 
serious  and  thoughtful ;  but  I  would  defy  any  man  to  mis 
take  Moses  for  one  who  came  on  such  an  errand.  Ho 
looked  more  like  a  messenger  sent  by  the  Father  of  Sin,  to 
demand  the  payment  of  a  certain  bond  that  had  been  signed 
in  blood,  and  of  which  the  fatal  pay-day  had  at  length 
arrived.  I  had  to  give  the  skirt  of  his  coat  a  pull,  in  order 
to  recall  him  to  our  agreement,  else  I  do  think  the  first  salu 
tation  received  by  the  attorney,  would  have  been  a  broad 
side  in  anything  but  words.  The  hint  succeeded,  and 
Marble  permitted  our  host  to  open  the  communications. 

Squire  Van  Tassel  had  a  very  miserly  exterior.  He  even 
looked  ill  fed ;  though  doubtless  this  appearance  was  more 
a  consequence  of  habit  of  body,  than  of  short- feed  ing.  He 
wore  spectacles  with  black  rims,  and  had  the  common  prac 
tice  of  looking  over  them  at  objects  at  a  distance,  which 
gave  him  an  air  still  more  watchful  than  that  which  he 
imbibed  from  character.  His  stature  was  small,  and  his 
years  about  sixty,  an  age  when  the  accumulation  of  money 
begins  to  bring  as  much  pain  as  pleasure ;  for  it  is  a  period 
of  life  when  men  cannot  fail  to  see  the  termination  of  their 
earthly  schemes.  Of  all  the  passions,  however,  avarice  is 
notoriously  that  which  the  latest  loosens  its  hold  on  the 
human  heart. 

"  Your  servant,  gentlemen,"  commenced  the  attorney,  in 
a  manner  that  was  civil  enough  ;  "  your  servant ;  I  beg  you 
to  help  yourselves  to  chairs."  We  all  three  took  seats,  at 
this  invitation.  "  A  pleasant  evening,"  eyeing  us  still  moro 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  47 

keenly  over  his  glasses,  "  and  weather  that  is  good  for  the 
crops.  If  the  wars  continue  much  longer  in  Europe," 
another  look  over  the  glasses,  "  we  shall  sell  all  the  sub 
stance  out  of  our  lands,  in  order  to  send  the  belligerents 
wheat.  I  begin  to  look  on  real  estate  security  as  considera 
bly  less  valuable  than  it  was,  when  hostilities  commenced  in 
1793,  and  as  daily  growing  less  and  less  so." 

"  Ay,  you  may  say  that,"  Marble  bluntly  answered ; 
"  particularly  the  farms  of  widows  and  orphans." 

The  "  'Squire"  was  a  little  startled  at  this  unexpected 
reply.  He  looked  intently  at  each  of  us  again,  over  the 
spectacles ;  and  then  asked,  in  a  manner  divided  between 
courtesy  and  authority — 

"May  I  inquire  your  names,  and  the  object  of  this 
visit  ?" 

"  Sartain,"  said  Marble.  "That's  reasonable  and  your 
right.  We  are  not  ashamed  of  our  names,  nor  of  our 
errand.  As  for  the  last,  Mr.  Van  Tassell,  you  '11  know  it 
sooner  than  you  will  wish  to  know  it ;  but,  to  begin  at  the 
right  end,  this  gentleman  with  me,  is  Mr.  Miles  Walling- 
ford,  a  partic'lar  friend  of  old  Mrs.  Wetmore,  who  lives  a 
bit  down  the  road  yonder,  at  a  farm  called  Willow  Grove ; 
'Squire  Wallingford,  sir,  is  her  friend,  and  my  friend,  and 
I  *ve  great  pleasure  in  making  you  acquainted  with  him." 

"  I  am  happy  to  see  the  gentleman,"  answered  Van 
Tassel,  taking  another  look,  while  at  the  same  time  he 
glanced  his  eye  at  an  alphabetical  list  of  the  attorneys  and 
counsellors,  to  see  what  place  I  occupied  among  them. 
*  Very  happy  to  see  the  gentleman,  who  has  quite  lately 
commenced  practice,  I  should  think  by  his  age,  and  my  not 
remembering  the  name." 

"  There  must  be  a  beginning  to  all  things,  Mr.  Van  Tas- 
s«'l,"  I  replied,  with  a  calmness  that  I  could  see  the  old 
usurer  did  not  like. 

"  Very  true,  sir,  and  I  hope  your  future  success  will  be 
in  proportion  to  the  lateness  of  your  appearance  at  the  bar. 
1  nur  companion  has  much  more  the  air  of  a  sailor  than  of 
a  lawyer." — This  was  true  enough,  there  being  no  mis 
taking  Marble's  character,  though  I  had  put  on  a  body-coat 
lo  come  ashore  in; — " I  presume  he  is  not  in  the  practice." 

"  That  remains  to  be  seen,  sir."  answered  Marble.  "  Ilav 


48  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

ing  told  you  my  friend's  name,  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  I  will  now 
tell  you  my  own.  1  am  called  Moses  Marble  Wetmore  Van 
Duser  Oloff,  sir,  or  some  such  bloody  thing ;  and  you  're 
welcome  to  take  your  pick  out  of  the  whole  list.  I'll 
answer  to  either  of  them  aliases." 

"  This  is  so  extraordinary  and  unusual,  gentlemen,  I 
scarce  know  what  to  make  of  it.  Has  this  visit  any  con 
nection  with  Mrs.  Wetmore,  or  her  farm,  or  the  mortgage  I 
have  been  foreclosing  on  the  last  ?" 

"  It  has,  sir  ;  and  I  am  that  Mrs.  Wetmore's  son  —  yes 
sir,  the  only  child  of  that  dear,  good,  old  soul." 

"  The  son  of  Mrs.  Wetmore !"  exclaimed  Van  Tassel,  both 
surprised  and  uneasy.  "  I  knew  there  was  a  son ;  but  I 
have  been  always  told  it  was  impossible  to  find  him.  I  see 
no  resemblance,  sir,  in  you  to  either  George  Wetmore,  or 
Kitty  Van  Duser." 

Now  this  was  not  altogether  true.  As  for  George  Wet- 
more,  they  who  had  known  him  in  middle  age,  afterwards 
declared  that  Moses  did  resemble  him  greatly ;  while  I, 
myself,  could  trace  in  the  mouth  and  milder  expression  of 
the  mate's  features,  a  strong  likeness  to  the  subdued  charac 
ter  of  his  aged  mother's  face.  This  resemblance  would  not 
have  been  observed,  in  all  probability,  without  a  knowledge 
of  the  affinity  that  existed  between  the  parties  ;  but,  with 
<hat  knowledge,  it  was  not  easy  to  overlook. 

"  Resemblance !"  repeated  Marble,  much  in  the  tone  ot 
one  who  is  ready  to  quarrel  on  the  slightest  provocation  ; 
"  how  should  there  be  any  resemblance,  after  the  life  I  've 
led.  In  the  first  place,  I  was  carried  out  of  my  mother's 
sight  in  less  than  ten  days  after  I  was  born.  Then  I  was 
placed  on  a  tombstone,  by  way  of  encouragement ;  after 
which,  they  sent  me  to  live  among  paupers.  I  ran  away  at 
ten  years  old,  and  went  to  sea,  where  I  've  played  the  part 
of  man-of-war's-man,  privateer's-man,  smuggler,  mate,  mas 
ter,  and  all  hands ;  everything,  in  short,  but  a  pirate  and 
mutineer.  I  've  been  a  bloody  hermk,  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  and 
if  that  won't  take  the  resemblance  to  anything  human  out 
of  a  fellow,  his  face  is  as  unchangeable  as  that  on  a  gold 
coin." 

"  All  this,  Mr.  Wallingford,  is  so  unintelligible  to  me, 
that  I  shall  have  to  ask  you  to  explain  it." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  49 

"  I  can  only  add  to  it,  sir,  my  belief  that  every  word  you 
hear  is  true.  I  am  satisfied  that  this  is,  in  a  legal  sense, 
OlofF  Van  Dus^r  Wetmore,  the  only  surviving  child  of 
George  Wetmore  and  Catharine  Van  Duser.  He  has  come 
to  see  you  in  relation  to  a  claim  you  are  said  to  hold 
against  the  farm  his  mother  inherited  from  her  parents." 

«  Said  to  hold ! — I  certainly  do  hold  George  Wetmore's 
bond,  secured  by  a  mortgage  signed  by  his  wife,  balance 
due,  including  interest  and  costs,  $963  42  ;  and  I  am  pro 
ceeding  to  sell,  under  the  statute.  One  sale  has  been  post 
poned,  to  oblige  the  widow ;  for  a  merciful  man  would  not 
wish  to  press  a  single  and  aged  woman,  though  I  've  lain 
out  of  ray  money  a  very  long  time.  You  are  aware,  sir, 
that  I  lose  all  my  interest  on  interest,  and  must  take  up  with 
just  what  the  law  will  give;  hardship  enough  in  active 
times  like  these,  when  not  a  day  passes  that  something  good 
does  not  offer  in  the  way  of  purchasing  the  best  of  securi 
ties,  at  liberal  discounts.  Trade  is  so  lively,  now,  Mr. 
Wallingford,  that  men  will  almost  sell  their  souls  for 
money." 

"  I  rather  think,  sir,  that  some  men  will  do  this  at  all 
times;  nay,  do  it  hourly,  daily.  But,  I  am  instructed" — I 
could  not  help  acting  the  counsel  a  little,  on  the  occasio.  — 
"  I  am  instructed  that  the  bond  of  George  Wetmore  is  paid 
in  full." 

"  How  can  that  be,  sir,  while  I  still  hold  bond  and  mort 
gage  ?  As  a  business  man,  you  must  understand  the  value 
to  be  attached  to  the  idle  tales  of  women,  and  can  see  the 
danger  of  taking  their  gossip  for  authority.  George  Wet- 
more  had  some  knowledge  of  business,  and  would  not  be 
likely  to  pay  his  bond  without  taking  it  up,  or  at  least  of 
obtaining  a  receipt;  much  less  leave  the  mortgage  on 
record." 

"  I  am  informed  he  did  take  your  receipt,  though  he  pre 
sumes  he  must  have  lost  it  with  a  missing  pocket-book, 
which  his  widow  supposes  to  have  been  dropped  from  his 
coat,  the  very  day  he  returned  from  the  court  where  he  met 
you,  and  where  he  says  he  paid  you  the  money,  being 
anxious  to  stop  interest  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  A  very  idle  story,  and  one  you  do  not  suppose   the 
chancellor  will   believe,  confirmed   by  the  hearsay  of  the 
5 


50  MILES     WALLINOPORD. 

party  interested  in  preserving  the  property.  You  are  aware, 
sir,  that  the  sale  can  be  stopped  only  by  an  injunction  from 
the  Court  of  Chancery." 

Now,  I  was  certainly  no  lawyer ;  but,  like  almost  every 
American,  I  knew  something  of  that  branch  of  the  jurispru 
dence  of  the  country,  which  touched  my  own  interests.  As 
a  landholder,  I  had  a  little  knowledge  of  the  law  of  real 
estate,  and  was  not  absolutely  ignorant  of  the  manner  in 
which  matters  were  managed  in  that  most  searching  of  all 
tribunals,  the  Court  of  Chancery.  A  lucky  thought  sug 
gested  itself  to  my  mind  on  the  instant,  and  I  made  use  of  it 
on  the  spur  of  the  moment. 

"  It  is  quite  true,  sir,"  I  answered,  "  that  any  prudent 
judge  might  hesitate  about  entering  a  decree  on  authority  no 
better  than  the  oath  of  Mrs.  Wetmore  that  she  had  heard 
her  husband  say  he  had  paid  the  money ;  but  you  will  re 
member  that  the  party  replying  has  to  swear  to  his  answer. 
All  of  us  might  be  better  satisfied  in  this  affair,  were  you  to 
make  oath  that  the  money  was  never  paid." 

This  hit  told  ;  and  from  that  moment  I  did  not  entertain 
a  doubt  that  Wetmore  had  paid  the  money,  and  that  Van 
Tassel  retained  a  perfect  recollection  of  the  whole  affair. 
This  much  I  could  read  in  the  man's  altered  countenance 
and  averted  eye,  though  my  impressions  certainly  were  not 
proof.  If  not  proof,  however,  for  a  court  of  justice,  they 
served  to  enlist  me  earnestly  in  the  pursuit  of  the  affair,  into 
which  I  entered  warmly  from  that  moment.  In  the  mean 
time,  I  waited  for  Van  Tassel's  answer,  watching  his  coun 
tenance  the  whole  time,  with  a  vigilance  that  I  could  easily 
see  caused  him  great  embarrassment. 

"  Kitty  Wetmore  and  I  were  born  neighbours'  children," 
he  said ;  "  and  this  mortgage  has  given  me  more  trouble 
than  all  the  rest  of  my  little  possessions.  That  I  have  been 
in  no  hurry  to  foreclose  is  plain  by  the  length  of  time  I  've 
suffered  to  go  by,  without  claiming  my  dues.  I  could  wait 
no  longer,  without  endangering  my  rights,  as  there  would 
be  a  presumption  of  payment  after  twenty  years,  and  a  pre 
sumption  that  would  tell  harder  against  me  than  old  Kitty's 
oath.  We  are  neighbours'  children,  as  I've  said,  neverthe 
less,  and  rather  than  push  matters  to  extremities  I  will  con 
sent  to  some  sort  of  a  compromise," 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  51 

"  And  what  sort  of  a  compromise  will  be  agreeable  to 
your  notions  of  justice,  Mr.  Van  Tassel  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,  as  Kitty  is  old,  it  would  be  a  sad  thing  to 
drive  her  from  the  roof  under  which  she  was  born.  This 
I  've  said  and  thought  from  the  first,  and  say,  now.  Still,  I 
cannot  part  with  my  property  without  a  compensation ; 
though  I  'm  willing  to  wait.  I  told  Mrs.  Wetmore,  before 
advertising,  that  if  she  would  give  a  new  bond,  making  all 
clear,  and  giving  me  interest  on  the  whole  sum  now  due,  I 
should  be  willing  to  grant  her  time.  I  now  propose,  how 
ever,  as  the  simplest  way  of  settling  the  affair,  to  accept 
from  her  a  release  of  the  equity  of  redemption,  and  to  grant 
her  a  lease,  for  her  own  life,  on  a  nominal  rent." 

Even  Marble  knew  enough  to  see  the  rank  injustice  of 
such  an  offer.  In  addition  to  conceding  the  non-payment 
of  the  debt,  it  was  securing  to  Van  Tassel,  at  no  distant 
day,  the  quiet  possession  of  the  farm,  for  somewhat  less  than 
one-third  its  value.  I  detected  symptoms  of  an  outbreak  in 
the  mate,  and  was  obliged  to  repress  it  by  a  sign,  while  I 
kept  the  discussion  in  my  own  hands. 

"  Under  such  an  arrangement,  sir,"  I  answered,  "  my 
friend  here  would  be  literally  selling  his  birthright  for  a 
mess  of  porridge." 

"  You  will  remember,  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  a  mortgage 
sale,  legally  made,  is  a  ticklish  thing,  and  the  courts  do  not 
like  to  disturb  one.  This  sale  will  take  place,  this  day 
week ;  and  the  title  once  passed,  it  will  not  be  so  easy  a 
matter  to  get  it  repassed.  Mr.  Wetmore,  here,  does  not 
look  like  a  man  ready  to  pay  down  a  thousand  dollars." 

**  We  shall  not  run  the  risk  of  letting  the  title  pass.  I 
will  buy  the  property,  myself,  if  necessary ;  and  should  it 
afterwards  appear  that  the  money  has  been  actually  paid,  we 
believe  you  are  sufficiently  secure  for  principal,  interest,  and 
costs." 

"  You  are  young  in  the  profession,  Mr.  Wallingford,  and 
will  come  to  learn  the  folly  of  advancing  money  for  ycur 
clients." 

"  1  am  not  in  the  profession  at  all,  sir,  as  you  have  erro 
neously  supposed,  but  am  a  ship-master;  and  Mr.  Wet- 
more,  or  Marble,  as  he  has  hitherto  been  called,  is  my  mate. 
Still,  we  are  none  the  worse  provided  with  the  means  of 


52  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

paying  a  thousand  dollars — or  twenty  of  them,  should  it  be 
necessary." 

"  No  lawyer !"  cried  Van  Tassel,  smiling  grimly.  "  A 
couple  of  sailors  about  to  dispute  the  foreclosure  of  a  mort 
gage  !  Famous  justice  we  should  get  at  your  hands,  gen- 
tlemen  !  Well,  well ;  I  now  see  how  it  is,  and  that  this  has 
only  been  an  attempt  to  work  on  my  sympathies  for  an  old 
woman  who  has  been  living  on  my  money  these  twenty 
years.  I  rather  think  your  8963  42,  will  prove  to  be  of  the 
same  quality  as  your  law." 

"  And,  yet,  it  struck  me,  Mr.  Van  Tassel,  that  you  rather 
disliked  the  idea  of  swearing  to  the  truth  of  an  answer  to  a 
certain  bill  in  Chancery,  which,  if  I  cannot  draw,  one 
Abraham  Van  Vechten,  of  Albany,  can !" 

**  Abraham  Van  Vechten  is  skilful  counsel,  and  an 
honest  man,  and  is  not  likely  to  be  employed  in  a  cause  that 
rests  only  on  an  old  woman's  hearsays  —  and  all  to  save 
her  own  farm !" 

Marble  could  keep  silence  no  longer.  He  told  me  after 
wards,  that,  during  the  dialogue,  he  had  been  taking  the 
measure  of  the  old  usurer's  foot,  and  felt  it  would  be  a  dis 
grace  to  strike  so  feeble  a  creature  ;  but,  to  sit  and  hear  his 
newly-found  mother  sneered  at,  and  her  just  rights  derided, 
was  more  than  his  patience  could  endure.  Rising  abruptly, 
therefore,  he  broke  out  at  once  in  one  of  the  plainest  philip 
pics  of  the  sea.  I  shall  not  repeat  all  he  said  ;  for,  to  render 
it  justly,  might  be  to  render  it  offensive ;  but,  in  addition  to 
calling  old  Van  Tassel  by  a  great  many  names  that  were 
as  unusual  as  they  were  quaint,  he  called  him  by  several 
that  would  be  familiar  to  the  ears  of  most  of  my  readers, 
besides  being  perfectly  well  merited.  I  allowed  his  humour 
to  find  vent;  and,  giving  the  attorney  to  understand  he 
should  hear  further  from  us,  I  succeeded  in  getting  my 
companion  to  the  wagon,  without  coming  to  blows.  I  could 
see  that  Van  Tassel  was  very  far  from  being  at  his  ease, 
and  that  he  would  still  gladly  keep  us,  if  he  could,  in  the 
hope  of  bringing  about  some  sort  of  a  compromise,  if  possi 
ble;  but  I  thought  it  wisest  to  let  matters  rest  awhile,  after 
the  decided  demonstration  we  had  already  made. 

It  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  get  Marble  into  the  vehicle ; 
but  this  was  no  sooner  effected,  than  I  trotted  him  off,  down 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  53 

the  road,  taking  the  direction  of  the  house  where  we  had 
been  told  to  seek  Kitty  Huguenin,  old  Mrs.  Wetmore's 
grand-daughter,  who  would  be  waiting  the  appearance  of 
the  chaise,  in  order  to  return  home. 

"  You  must  put  on  a  more  amicable  look,"  said  I  to  the 
mate,  as  we  went  on  our  way,  "  or  you  Ml  frighten  your 
niece  ;  with  whom,  you  will  remember,  you  are  about  to 
make  an  acquaintance." 

"The  cheating  vagabond,  to  take  advantage  of  a  poor, 
lonely,  old  woman,  whose  only  husband  was  in  the  grave, 
and  only  son  at  sea  !"  the  mate  continued  to  mutter.  "  Talk 
about  the  commandments  !  I  should  like  to  know  what 
commandment  this  was  breaking.  The  whole  six,  in  a 
batch." 

"  The  tenth,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  my  friend ;  and  that 
is  a  commandment  broken  all  day,  and  every  day." 

The  denunciations  of  the  mate  continued  for  some  time 
longer,  and  then  went  off  like  the  rumbling  of  distant 
thunder  in  the  heavens  after  the  passage  of  the  gust. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

'*  No  Moorish  maid  might  hope  to  vie 
With  Laila's  cheek,  or  LaiJa's  eye ; 
No  maiden  loved  with  purer  truth, 
Or  ever  loved  a  lovelier  youth." 

SOUTHKY. 

"  MILES,"  said  Moses,  suddenly,  after  riding  a  short  dis 
tance  in  silence,  "  I  must  quit  the  old  lady,  this  very  night, 
and  go  down  with  you  to  town.  We  must  have  that  money 
up  at  the  place  of  sale,  in  readiness  for  the  vagabond ;  for, 
as  to  letting  him  have  the  smallest  chance  at  Willow  Grove, 
that  is  out  of  the  question." 

"As  you  please,  Marble ;  but,  now,  get  yourself  in  trim 
to  meet  another  relation ;  the  second  you  have  laid  eyes  on, 
in  this  world." 
5* 


54  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  Think  of  that,  Miles  !  Think  of  my  having  two  rela 
tions  !  A  mother  and  a  niece !  Well,  it  is  a  true  saying 
that  it  never  rains  but  it  pours." 

"  You  probably  have  many  more,  uncles,  aunts,  and 
cousins  in  scores.  The  Dutch  are  famous  for  counting 
cousins ;  and  no  doubt  you  '11  have  calls  on  you  from  half 
the  county." 

I  saw  that  Marble  was  perplexed,  and  did  not  know,  at 
first,  but  he  was  getting  to  be  embarrassed  by  this  affluence 
of  kindred.  The  mate,  however,  was  not  the  man  long  to 
conceal  his  thoughts  from  me ;  and  in  the  strength  of  his 
feelings  he  soon  let  his  trouble  be  known. 

"  I  say,  Miles,"  he  rejoined,  "  a  fellow  may  be  bothered 
with  felicity,  I  find.  Now,  here,  in  ten  minutes  perhaps,  I 
shall  have  to  meet  my  sister's  darter — my  own,  born, 
blood  niece ;  a  full-grown,  and  I  dare  say,  a  comely  young 
woman  ;  and,  hang  me  if  I  know  exactly  what  a  man  ought 
to  say  in  such  a  state  of  the  facts.  Generalizing  wont  do 
with  these  near  relations ;  and  I  suppose  a  sister's  darter 
is  pretty  much  the  same  to  a  chap  as  his  own  darter  would 
be,  provided  he  had  one." 

"  Exactly  ;  had  you  reasoned  a  month,  you  could  not  have 
hit  upon  a  better  solution  of  the  difficulty  than  this.  Treat 
this  Kitty  Huguenin  just  as  you  would  treat  Kitty  Marble." 

"  Ay,  ay  ;  all  this  is  easy  enough  aforehand,  and  to  such 
scholars  as  you  ;  but  it  comes  hard  on  a  fellow  like  myself 
to  heave  his  idees  out  of  him,  as  it  might  be,  with  a  wind 
lass.  I  managed  the  old  woman  right  well,  and  could  get 
along  with  a  dozen  mothers,  better  than  with  one  sister's 
darter.  Suppose  she  should  turn  out  a  girl  with  black 
eyes,  and  red  cheeks,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing  ;  I  dare  say 
she  would  expect  me  to  kiss  her  ?" 

"  Certainly ;  she  will  expect  that,  should  her  eyes  even 
be  white,  and  her  cheeks  black.  Natural  affection  expects 
this  much  even  among  the  least  enlightened  of  the  human 
race." 

"  I  am  disposed  to  do  everything  according  to  usage,"  re 
turned  Marble,  quite  innocently,  and  more  discomposed  by 
the  situation  in  which  he  so  unexpectedly  found  himself, 
than  he  might  have  been  willing  to  own  ;  "  while,  at  the 
same  time,  I  do  not  wish  to  do  anything  that  is  not  expected 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  55 

from  a  son  and  an  uncle.  If  these  relations  had  only  come 
one  at  a  time." 

"  Poh,  poh,  Moses — do  not  be  quarrelling  with  your  good 
luck,  just  as  it 's  at  its  height.  Here  is  the  house,  and  I  '11 
engage  one  of  those  four  girls  is  your  niece — that  with  the 
bonnet,  for  a  dollar ;  she  being  ready  to  go  home,  and  the 
whole  having  come  to  the  door,  in  consequence  of  seeing 
the  chaise  driving  down  the  road.  They  are  puzzled  at 
finding  us  in  it,  however,  instead  of  the  usual  driver." 

Marble  hemmed,  attempted  to  clear  his  throat,  pulled 
down  both  sleeves  of  his  jacket,  settled  his  black  handker 
chief  to  his  mind,  slily  got  rid  of  his  quid,  and  otherwise 
"  cleared  ship  for  action,"  as  he  would  have  been  very  apt 
to  describe  his  own  preparations.  After  all,  his  heart  failed 
him,  at  the  pinch ;  and  just  as  I  was  pulling  up  the  horse, 
he  said  to  me,  in  a  voice  so  small  and  delicate,  that  it 
sounded  odd  to  one  who  had  heard  the  man's  thunder,  as 
he  hailed  yards  and  tops  in  gales  of  wind — 

"  Miles,  my  dear  boy,  I  do  not  half  like  this  business  ; 
suppose  you  get  out,  and  open  the  matter  to  the  ladies. 
There 's  four  of  them,  you  see,  and  that 's  three  too  many. 
Go,  now,  Miles,  that^s  a  good  fellow,  and  I'll  do  the  same 
for  you  another  time.  I  can't  have  four  nieces  here,  you  '11 
own  yourself." 

*'  And  while  I  am  telling  your  story  to  your  niece,  your 
own  sister's  daughter,  what  will  you  be  doing  here,  pray  ?" 

••  Doing  ? — Why  anything,  my  dear  Miles,  that  can  be 
useful  —  I  say,  boy,  do  you  think  she  looks  anything  like 
me?  When  you  get  nearer,  if  you  should  think  so,  just 
hold  up  a  hand  as  a  signal,  that  I  may  not  be  taken  by 
surprise.  Yes,  yes  ;  you  go  first,  and  I  '11  follow  ;  and  as 
for  *  doing,'  why,  you  know,  I  can  hold  this  bloody  horse." 

I  laughed,  threw  the  reins  to  Marble,  who  seized  them 
with  both  hands,  as  if  the  beast  required  holding,  while  I 
alighted,  and  walked  to  the  cluster  of  girls,  who  awaited  my 
movements  in  surprise  and  silence.  Since  that  day,  I  have 
seen  more  of  the  world  than  might  have  been  expected  in 
one  of  my  early  career ;  and  often  have  I  had  occasion  to 
remark  the  tendency  there  exists  to  extremes  in  most  things ; 
in  manners  as  well  as  in  every  other  matter  connected  with 
human  feelings.  As  we  become  sophisticated,  acting  takes 


56  MILES     WALLINGFORP. 

the  place  of  nature,  and  men  and  women  often  affect  the 
greatest  indifference  in  cases  in  which  they  feel  the  liveliest 
interest.  This  is  the  source  of  the  ultra  sangfroid  of  wha: 
is  termed  high  breeding,  which  would  have  caused  the  four 
young  women,  who  then  stood  in  the  door-yard  of  the 
respectable  farm-house  at  which  I  had  alighted,  to  assume 
an  air  as  cold,  and  as  marble-like,  at  the  sudden  appearance 
of  Mrs.  Wetmore's  chaise,  containing  two  strange  faces,  as 
if  they  had  been  long  expecting  our  arrival,  and  were  a  little 
displeased  it  had  not  occurred  an  hour  sooner.  Such,  how 
ever,  was  not  my  reception.  Though  the  four  girls  were 
all  youthful,  blooming,  pretty,  delicate  in  appearance, 
according  to  the  fashion  of  American  women,  ancf  tolerably 
well  attired,  they  had  none  of  the  calm  exterior  of  con 
ventional  manner.  One  would  speak  quick  to  another ; 
looks  of  surprise  were  often  exchanged ;  there  were  not  a 
few  downright  giggles,  and  then,  each  put  on  as  dignified  an 
air  to  meet  the  stranger  as,  under  the  circumstances,  she 
could  assume. 

"  I  presume  Miss  Kitty  Huguenin  is  among  you,  young 
ladies,"  I  commenced,  bowing  as  civilly  as  was  necessary  ; 
"  for  this  appears  to  be  the  house  to  which  we  were  di 
rected." 

A  girl  of  about  sixteen,  of  decidedly  pleasing  appear 
ance,  and  one  who  bore  a  sufficient  resemblance  to  old  Mrs. 
Wetmore  to  be  recognised,  advanced  a  step  out  of  the  group, 
a  little  eagerly,  and  then  as  suddenly  checked  herself  with 
the  timidity  of  her  years  and  sex,  as  if  afraid  of  going  too 
far. 

"  I  am  Kitty,"  she  said,  changing  colour  once  or  twice ; 
now  flushing  and  now  growing  pale — "  Is  any  thing  the 
matter,  sir — has  grandmother  sent  for  me  ?" 

"  Nothing  is  the  matter,  unless  you  can  call  good  news 
something  the  matter.  We  have  just  left  your  grandmo 
ther's  on  business,  having  been  up  to  'Squire  Van  Tassel's 
on  her  affairs ;  rather  than  let  us  go  on  foot,  she  lent  us  her 
chaise,  on  condition  that  we  should  stop  on  our  return  and 
bring  you  home  with  us.  The  chaise  is  the  evidence  that 
we  act  under  orders." 

In  most  countries,  such  a  proposition  would  have  excited 
distrust;  in  America,  and  in  that  day,  more  especially 


MILES     WALLIffGFORD.  57 

among  girls  of  the  class  of  Kitty  Huguenin,  it  produced 
none.  Then,  I  flatter  myself,  I  was  not  a  very  frightful 
object  to  a  girl  of  that  age,  and  that  my  countenance  was 
not  of  such  a  cast  as  absolutely  to  alarm  her.  Kitty,  ac 
cordingly,  wished  her  companions  hasty  adieus,  and  in  a 
minute  she  was  placed  between  Marble  and  myself,  the  old 
vehicle  being  sufficiently  spacious  to  accommodate  three.  I 
made  my  bows  and  away  we  trotted,  of  ambled  would  be  a 
better  word.  For  a  brief  space  there  was  silence  in  the 
chaise,  though  I  could  detect  Marble  stealing  side-long 
glances  at  his  pretty  little  niece.  His  eyes  were  moist,  and 
he  hemmed  violently  once,  and  actually  blew  his  nose,  tak 
ing  occasion,  at  the  same  time,  to  pass  his  handkerchief 
over  his  forehead,  no  less  than  three  times  in  as  many  mi 
nutes.  The  furtive  manner  in  which  he  indulged  in  these 
feelings,  provoked  me  to  say — 

"  You  appear  to  have  a  bad  cold  this  evening,  Mr.  Wet- 
more,"  for  I  thought  the  opportunity  might  also  be  improved, 
in  the  way  of  breaking  ground  with  our  secret. 

"  Ay,  you  know  how  it  is  in  these  matters,  Miles — some 
how,  I  scarce  know  why  myself,  but  somehow  I  feel  bloody 
womanish  this  evening." 

I  felt  little  Kitty  pressing  closer  to  my  side,  as  if  she  had 
certain  misgivings  touching  her  other  neighbour. 

"  I  suppose  you  are  surprised,  Miss  Kitty,"  I  resumed, 
"at  finding  two  strangers  in  your  grandmother's  chaise?" 

'*  I  did  not  expect  it — but — you  said  you  had  been  to  Mr. 
Van  Tassel's,  and  that  there  was  good  news  for  me — does 
'Squire  Van  Tassel  allow  that  grandfather  paid  him  the 
money  ?" 

"  Not  that  exactly,  but  you  have  friends  who  will  see  that 
no  wrong  shall  be  done  you.  I  suppose  you  have  been 
afraid  your  grandmother  and  yourself  might  be  turned  away 
from  the  old  place  ?" 

"  'Squire  Van  Tassel's  daughters  have  boasted  as  much," 
— answered  Kitty,  in  a  very  subdued  tone — a  voice,  indeed, 
that  grew  lower  and  more  tremulous  as  she  proceeded— 
"  but  I  don't  much  mind  them,  for  they  think  their  father  is 
to  own  the  whole  country  one  of  these  days."  This  was 
uttered  with  spirit.  "  But  the  old  house  was  built  by  grand 
mother's  grandfather,  they  say,  and  grandmother  was  born 


58  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

in  it,  and  mother  was  born  in  it,  and  so  was  I.     It  is  har 
to  leave  a  place  like  that,  sir,  and  for  a  debt,  too,  that  grand 
mother  says  she  is  sure  has  once  been  paid." 

"  Ay,  bloody  hard  !"  growled  Marble. 

Kitty  again  pressed  nearer  to  me,  or,  to  speak  more  pro 
perly,  farther  from  the  mate,  whose  countenance  was  par 
ticularity  grim  just  at  that  moment. 

"  All  that  you  say  is  very  true,  Kitty,"  I  replied ;  "  but 
Providence  has  sent  you  friends  to  take  care  that  no  wrong 
shall  be  done  your  grandmother,  or  yourself." 

"You're  right  enough  in  that,  Miles,"  put  in  the  mate. 
"  God  bless  the  old  lady ;  she  shall  never  sleep  out  of  the 
house,  with  my  consent,  unless  it  is  when  she  sails  down 
the  river  to  go  to  the  theatre,  and  the  museum,  the  ten  or 
fifteen  Dutch  churches  there  are  in  town,  and  all  them  'ere 
sort  o'  thingumerees." 

Kitty  gazed  at  her  left-hand  neighbour  with  surprise,  but 
I  could  feel  that  maiden  bashfulness  induced  her  to  press 
less  closely  to  my  side  than  she  had  done  the  minute  before. 

"  I  don't  understand  you,"  Kitty  answered,  after  a  short 
pause,  during  which  she  was  doubtless  endeavouring  to 
comprehend  what  she  had  heard.  "  Grandmother  has  no 
wish  to  go  to  town ;  she  only  wants  to  pass  the  rest  of  her 
days,  quietly,  at  the  old  place,  and  one  church  is  enough 
for  anybody." 

Had  the  little  girl  lived  a  few  years  later,  she  would  have 
ascertained  that  some  persons  require  half-a-dozen. 

"  And  you,  Kitty,  do  you  suppose  your  grandmother  has 
no  thought  for  you,  when  she  shall  be  called  away  her 
self? 

"  Oh  !  yes — I  know  she  thinks  a  good  deal  of  that,  but 
I  try  to  set  her  heart  at  ease,  poor,  dear,  old  grandmother, 
for  it's  of  no  use  to  be  distressing  herself  about  me  !  lean 
take  care  of  myself  well  enough,  and  have  plenty  of  friends 
who  will  never  see  me  want.  Father's  sisters  say  they'll 
take  care  of  me." 

"  You  have  one  friend,  Kitty,  of  whom  you  little  think, 
just  now,  and  he  will  provide  for  you." 

"  I  don't  know  whom  you  mean,  sir — unless — and  yet — • 
you  can't  suppose  I  never  think  of  God,  sir  ?" 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  59 

«*  I  mean  a  friend  on  earth — have  you  no  friend  on  earth, 
whom  you  have  not  mentioned  yet  7" 

"I  am  not  sure — perhaps — you  do  not  mean  Horace 
Bright,  do  you,  sir  ?" 

This  was  said  with  a  bright  blush,  and  a  look  in  which 
the  dawning  consciousness  of  maiden  shame  was  so  singu 
larly  blended  with  almost  childish  innocence,  as  both  to 
delight  me,  and  yet  cause  me  to  smile. 

"And  who  is  Horace  Bright?"  I  asked,  assuming  as 
grave  an  air  as  possible. 

"  Oh  i  Horace  is  nobody — only  the  son  of  one  of  our 
neighbours.  There,  don't  you  see  the  old  stone  house  that 
stands  among  the  apple  and  cherry  trees,  on  the  banks  of 
the  river,  just  here  in  a  line  with  this  barn  ?" 

"  Quite  plainly ;  and  a  very  pretty  place  it  is.  We  were 
admiring  it  as  we  drove  up  the  road." 

"Well,  that  is  Horace  Bright's  father's;  and  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  the  neighbourhood.  But  you  mustn't  mind 
what  he  says,  grandmother  always  tells  me ;  boys  love  to 
talk  grandly,  and  all  the  folks  about  here  feel  for  us,  though 
most  of  them  are  afraid  of  'Squire  Van  Tassel,  too." 

"  I  place  no  reliance  at  all  on  Horace's  talk — not  I.  It 
is  just  as  your  grandmother  tells  you ;  boys  are  fond  of 
making  a  parade,  and  often  utter  things  they  don't  mean." 

"  Well,  I  don't  think  that  is  Horace's  way,  in  the  least ; 
though  I  wouldn't  have  you  suppose  I  ever  think,  the  least 
in  the  world,  about  what  Horace  says  concerning  my  never 
being  left  to  want.  My  own  aunts  will  take  care  of  that" 

"And  should  they  fail  you,  my  dear,"  cried  Marble, 
with  strong  feeling,  "  your  own  uncle  would  step  into  their 
places,  without  waiting  to  have  his  memory  jogged." 

Again  Kitty  looked  surprised,  a  very  little  startled,  and 
again  she  pressed  to  my  side. 

"I  have  no  uncle,"  she  answered,  timidly.  "Father 
never  had  a  brother,  and  grandmother's  son  is  dead." 

"  No,  Kitty,"  I  said,  giving  a  look  at  Marble  to  keep  him 
quiet ;  "  in  the  last  you  are  mistaken.  This  is  the  good 
news  of  which  we  spoke.  Your  grandmother's  son  is  not 
dead,  but  living,  and  in  good  health.  He  is  found,  acknow 
ledged,  has  passed  the  afternoon  with  your  grandmother, 
has  money  more  than  enough  to  satisfy  even  the  unjust 


60  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

demand  of  the  miserly  Van  Tassel,  and  will  be  a  father  to 
you." 

"  Oh !  dear  me — can  this  be  true !"  exclaimed  Kitty,  press- 
ing  still  closer  than  ever  to  my  side.  "  And  are  you  uncle, 
after  all,  and  will  it  all  come  out  as  you  say  ?  Poor,  poor, 
grandmother,  and  I  not  at  home  to  hear  it  all,  and  to  help 
her  under  such  a  great  trial !" 

"  Your  grandmother  was  a  little  distressed  of  course,  at 
first,  but  she  bore  it  all  remarkably  well,  and  is  as  happy, 
at  this  moment,  as  you  yourself  could  wish  her  to  be.  You 
are  under  a  mistake,  however,  in  supposing  I  am  your 
uncle — do  I  look  old  enough  to  be  your  mother's  brother  ?" 

"  Dear  me,  no — I  might  have  seen  that,  hadn't  I  been  so 
silly — can  it  be  this  other  gentleman  ?" 

Here  Marble  took  his  hint  from  nature,  and  clasping  the 
pretty  young  creature  in  his  arms,  he  kissed  her  with  an 
affection  and  warmth  that  were  truly  paternal.  Poor  Kilty 
was  frightened  at  first,  and  I  dare  say,  like  her  grandmother, 
in  a  slight  degree  disappointed;  but  there  was  so  much 
heartiness  in  the  mate's  manner,  that  it  reassured  her  in  a 
degree. 

"  I  'm  a  bloody  poor  uncle,  I  know,  Kitty,  for  a  young 
woman  like  you  to  own,"  Marble  got  out,  though  sorely 
tempted  to  blubber ;  "  but  there 's  worse  in  the  world,  as 
you  Ml  discover,  no  doubt,  in  time.  Such  as  I  am,  you  must 
take  me,  and,  from  this  time  henceforth,  do  not  care  a  straw 
for  old  Van  Tassel,  or  any  other  griping  vagabond  like  him, 
in  York  state." 

"  Uncle  is  a  sailor !"  Kitty  answered,  after  being  fairly 
released  from  the  mate's  rough  embrace.  "  Grandmothei 
heard  once  that  he  was  a  soldier." 

"  Ay,  that  comes  of  lying.  I  don't  think  they  could  have 
made  a  soldier  of  me,  had  two  wicked  nurses  run  away  with 
me,  and  had  they  placed  me  on  fifty  tombstones,  by  way  of 
commencing  life.  My  natur'  would  revolt  at  carrying  a 
musket,  for  sartain,  while  the  seas  have  always  been  a  sort 
of  home  to  me." 

Kitty  made  no  answer  to  this,  being  a  little  in  doubt, 
believe,  as  to  the  manner  in  which  she  was  to  regard  this 
new  acquisition  of  an  uncle. 

"  Your  grand-parents  did  suppose  your  uncle  a  soldier," 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  61 

1  remarked,  "  but,  after  the  man  was  seen  the  mistake  was 
discovered,  and  now  the  truth  has  come  out  in  a  way  that 
will  admit  of  no  dispute." 

"How  is  uncle  named?"  demanded  the  niece,  in  a  low 
voice,  and  a  hesitating  manner.  "  Mother's  brother  was 
christened  Oloff,  I  have  heard  grandmother  say." 

"  Very  true,  dear ;  we  've  been  all  over  that,  the  old  lady 
and  I.  They  tell  me,  too,  I  was  christened  by  the  name  of 
Moses — I  suppose  you  know  who  Moses  was,  child  ?" 

"  To  be  sure,  uncle !"  said  Kitty,  with  a  little  laugh  of 
surprise.  "  He  was  the  great  law-maker  of  the  Jews." 

"Ha,  Miles,  is  that  so?" 

I  nodded  assent. 

"  And  do  you  know  about  his  being  found  in  the  bulrushes, 
and  the  story  of  the  king  of  Ethiopia's  daughter?" 

"  The  king  of  Egypt,  you  mean,  do  you  not,  uncle  Oloff?" 
cried  Kitty,  with  another  little  laugh. 

"  Well,  Ethiopia  or  Egypt ;  it 's  all  pretty  much  the  same 
— this  girl  has  been  wonderfully  edicated,  Miles,  and  will 
turn  out  famous  company  for  me,  in  the  long  winter  even 
ings,  some  twenty  years  hence,  or  when  I  've  worked  my 
way  up  into  the  latitude  of  the  dear,  good,  old  soul  under 
the  hill  yonder." 

A  slight  exclamation  from  Kitty  was  followed  by  a  blush, 
and  a  change  of  expression,  that  showed  she  was  thinking, 
just  at  that  moment,  of  anything  but  uncle  Oloff.  I  asked 
an  explanation. 

"  It 's  only  Horace  Bright,  out  yonder  in  the  orchard, 
looking  at  us.  He  will  be  puzzled  to  know  who  is  with  me, 
here,  in  the  old  chaise.  Horace  thinks  he  can  drive  a  horse 
better  than  any  one  about  here,  so  you  must  be  careful  how 
you  hold  the  reins,  or  use  the  whip. — Horace !" 

This  boded  no  good  to  Marble's  plans  for  passing  the 
evenings  of  his  old  age  with  Kitty  to  amuse  him ;  but,  as 
we  were  now  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  with  the  cottage  in 
sight,  Horace  Bright  was  soon  lost  to  view.  To  do  the  girl 
justice,  she  appeared  now  to  think  only  of  her  grandmother, 
and  of  the  effects  the  recent  discovery  of  her  son  would  be 
likely  to  produce  on  one  of  her  years  and  infirmities.  As 
for  myself,  I  was  surprised  to  see  Mr.  Hardinge  in  earnest 
conversation  with  old  Mrs.  Wetmore,  both  seated  on  the 
6 


63  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

Btoop  of  the  collage,  in  Ihe  mild  summer's  evening,  and 
Lucy  walking,  to  and  fro,  on  the  short  grass  of  the  willow 
bottom,  with  an  impatience  and  restlessness  of  manner  it 
was  very  unusual  for  her  to  exhibit.  No  sooner  was  Kitty 
alighted,  than  she  ran  to  her  grandmother,  Marble  follow- 
mg,  while  I  hastened  to  the  point  where  was  to  be  found  the 
great  object  of  my  interesl.  Lucy's  face  was  full  of  feeling 
and  concern,  and  she  received  me  with  an  extended  hand, 
that,  gracious  as  was  the  act  itself,  and  most  grateful  as  it 
would  have  proved  to  me  under  other  circumstances,  I  now 
feared  boded  no  good. 

"  Miles,  you  have  been  absent  an  age !"  Lucy  commenced. 
*  I  should  be  disposed  to  reproach  you,  had  not  the  extraor 
dinary  story  of  this  good  old  woman  explained  it  all.  I  feel 
the  want  of  air  and  exercise ;  give  me  your  arm,  and  we 
will  walk  a  short  distance  up  the  road.  My  dear  father  will 
not  be  inclined  to  quit  thai  happy  family,  so  long  as  any 
lighl  is  left." 

I  gave  Lucy  my  arm,  and  we  did  walk  up  Ihe  road  toge 
ther,  actually  ascending  the  hill  I  had  just  descended ;  but 
all  this  did  not  induce  me  to  overlook  the  fact  that  Lucy's 
manner  was  hurried  and  excited.  The  whole  seemed  so 
inexplicable,  that  I  thought  I  would  wait  her  own  pleasure 
in  the  mailer. 

"  Your  friend,  Marble,"  she  conlinued — "  I  do  nol  know 
why  I  ought  not  to  say  our  friend,  Marble,  must  be  a  very 
happy  man  at  having,  at  length,  discovered  who  his  parents 
are,  and  to  have  discovered  them  to  be  so  respectable  and 
worthy  of  his  affection." 

"  As  yet,  he  seems  to  be  more  bewildered  than  happy, 
as,  indeed,  does  the  whole  family.  The  thing  has  come  on 
them  so  unexpectedly,  that  there  has  not  been  time  to  bring 
their  feelings  in  harmony  with  Ihe  fads." 

"  Family  affeclion  is  a  blessed  thing,  Miles,"  Lucy  re 
sumed,  after  a  short  pause,  speaking  in  her  thoughtful 
manner ;  "  there  is  little  in  this  world  thai  can  compensale 
for  ils  loss.  Il  musl  have  been  sad,  sad,  lo  the  poor  fellow 
to  have  lived  so  long  without  father,  mother,  sister,  brother, 
or  any  olher  known  relative." 

"  I  believe  Marble  found  it  so ;  yet,  I  think,  he  felt  the 
•upposed  disgrace  of  his  birth  more  than  his  solitary  condi« 


MILES     WALLINGFOHD.  63 

tion.  The  man  has  warn  affections  at  the  bottom,  though 
he  has  a  most  uncouth  manner  of  making  it  known." 

"  I  am  surprised  one  so  circumstanced  never  thought  of 
marrying ;  he  might,  at  least,  have  lived  in  the  bosom  of 
his  own  family,  though  he  never  knew  that  of  a  father." 

"  These  are  the  suggestions  of  a  tender  and  devoted 
female  heart,  dear  Lucy ;  but,  what  has  a  sailor  to  do  with 
a  wife  ?  I  have  heard  it  said  Sir  John  Jervis  —  the  present 
Lord  St.  Vincent  —  always  declared  a  married  seaman,  a 
seaman  spoiled ;  and  I  believe  Marble  loves  a  ship  so  well 
he  would  hardly  know  how  to  love  a  woman." 

Lucy  made  no  answer  to  this  indiscreet  and  foolish  speech. 
Why  it  was  made,  I  scarce  knew  myself;  but  the  heart  has 
its  bitter  moods,  when  it  prompts  sentiments  and  declara 
tions  that  are  very  little  in  accordance  with  its  real  impulses. 
I  was  so  much  ashamed  of  what  I  had  just  said,  and,  in 
truth,  so  much  frightened,  that,  instead  of  attempting  to 
laugh  it  off,  as  a  silly,  unmeaning  opinion,  or  endeavour 
ing  to  explain  that  this  was  not  my  own  way  of  thinking,  1 
walked  on  some  distance  in  silence,  myself,  and  suffered 
my  companion  to  imitate  me  in  this  particular.  I  have  since 
had  reason  to  think  that  Lucy  was  not  pleased  at  my  man 
ner  of  treating  the  subject,  though,  blessed  creature !  she 
had  another  matter  to  communicate,  that  lay  too  heavy  on 
her  heart,  to  allow  one  of  her  generous,  disinterested  nature 
to  think  much  of  anything  else. 

"  Miles,"  Lucy,  at  length,  broke  the  silence,  by  saying — 
"  I  wish,  I  do  wish  we  had  not  met  that  other  sloop  this 
morning." 

I  slopped  short  in  the  highway,  dropped  my  beautiful 
companion's  arm,  and  stood  gazing  intently  in.  her  face,  as 
if  I  would  read  her  most  inmost  thoughts  through  those 
windows  of  the  soul,  her  serene,  mild,  tender,  blue  eyes.  I 
saw  that  the  face  was  colourless,  and  that  the  beautiful  lips, 
out  of  which  the  words  that  had  alarmed  me  more  by  their 
accents  than  their  direct  signification,  were  quivering  in  a 
M  iy  that  their  lovely  mistress  could  not  control.  Tears,  as 
!a  ge  as  heavy  drops  of  rain,  too,  were  trembling  on  the 
lo;  \g  silken  eye-lashes,  while  the  very  attitude  of  the  pre- 
girl  denoted  hopelessness  and  grief! 


64  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  This  relates  to  Grace !"  I  exclaimed,  though  my  throat 
was  so  parched,  as  almost  to  choke  my  utterance. 

"Whom,  or  what  else,  can  now  occupy  our  minds,  Miles; 
I  can  scarce  think  of  anything  but  Grace ;  when  I  do,  it  is 
to  remember  that  my  own  brother  has  killed  her !" 

What  answer  could  I  have  made  to  such  a  speech,  had 
my  mind  been  sufficiently  at  ease  as  respects  my  sister  to 
think  of  anything  else?  As  it  was,  I  did  not  even  attempt 
the  vain  office  of  saying  anything  in  the  way  of  alleviating 
my  companion's  keen  sense  of  the  misconduct  of  Rupert. 

"  Grace  is  then  worse  in  consequence  of  this  unhappy 
rencontre  ?"  I  observed,  rather  than  asked. 

"Oh!  Miles;  what  a  conversation  I  have  had  with  her, 
this  afternoon !  She  speaks,  already,  more  like  a  being  that 
belongs  to  the  regions  of  the  blessed,  than  like  one  of  earth  ! 
There  is  no  longer  any  secret  between  us.  She  would  gladly 
have  avoided  telling  me  her  precise  situation  with  Rupert, 
but  we  had  already  gone  so  far,  I  would  know  more.  I 
thought  it  might  relieve  her  mind  ;  and  there  was  the  chance, 
however  slight,  of  its  enabling  us  to  suggest  some  expedient 
to  produce  still  further  good.  I  think  it  has  had  some  of 
the  first  effect,  for  she  is  now  sleeping." 

"  Did  Grace  say  anything  of  your  communicating  the 
miserable  tale  to  me?" 

"  It  is,  indeed,  a  miserable  tale !  Miles,  they  were  engaged 
from  the  time  Grace  was  fifteen  !  Engaged  distinctly,  and 
in  terms,  I  mean  ;  not  by  any  of  the  implied  understandings, 
by  which  those  who  were  so  intimate,  generally,  might  be 
lieve  themselves  bound  to  each  other." 

"  And  in  what  manner  did  so  early  and  long-continued 
an  engagement  cease?" 

"  It  came  from  Rupert,  who  should  have  died  first,  before 
he  was  so  untrue  to  himself,  to  my  poor  father,  to  me,  to  all 
of  us,  Miles,  as  well  as  to  his  own  manhood.  It  has  been  as 
we  supposed  ;  he  has  been  deluded  by  the  eclat  that  attaches 
to  these  Mertons  in  our  provincial  society ;  and  Emily  is 
rather  a  showy  girl,  you  know, — at  least  for  those  who  are 
accustomed  only  to  our  simple  habits." 

Alas  1  little  did  Lucy  then  know — she  has  learned  better 
since — that  "  showy"  girls  belong  much  more  to  our  "  sim 
ple"  state  of  society,  than  to  the  state  of  those  which  are 


MILES    WALLIIfOFORD.  65 

commonly  conceived  to  be  more  advanced.  But  Emily 
Merton  was,  in  a  slight  degree,  more  artificial  in  manner, 
than  it  was  usual  for  a  Manhattanese  female  of  that  day,  to 
be,  and  this  was  what  Lucy  meant;  Lucy,  who  always 
thought  so  humbly  of  herself,  and  was  ever  so  ready  to  con 
cede  to  her  rivals  all  that  could  plausibly  be  asked  in  their 
behalf. 

"  I  am  well  aware  how  much  importance  the  leading  set 
among  ourselves  attaches  to  English  connection,  and  Eng 
lish  rank,"  I  answered  ;  «'  but,  it  does  not  strike  me  Emily 
Merton  is  of  a  class  so  elevated,  that  Rupert  Hardinge  need 
break  his  faith,  in  order  to  reap  the  advantage  of  belonging 
to  her,  or  her  family." 

"  It  cannot  be  altogether  that.  Miles,"  Lucy  added,  in 
an  appealing,  but  touchingly  confidential  manner,  "  you  and 
I  have  known  each  other  from  children,  and,  whatever  may 
be  the  weaknesses  of  one  who  is  so  dear  to  me,  and  who,  I 
hope,  has  not  altogether  lost  his  hold  on  your  own  affec 
tions,  we  can  still  rely  on  each  other.  I  shall  speak  to  you 
with  the  utmost  dependence  on  your  friendship,  and  a  reli 
ance  on  your  heart  that  is  not  second  to  that  which  I  place 
on  my  dear  father's ;  for  this  is  a  subject  on  which  there 
ought  to  be  no  concealment  between  us.  It  is  impossible 
that  one  as  manly,  as  upright,  as  honest  I  will  say,  as  your 
self,  can  have  lived  so  long  in  close  intimacy  with  Rupert, 
and  not  be  aware  that  he  has  marked  defects  of  character." 

"  I  have  long  known  that  he  is  capricious,"  I  answered, 
unwilling  to  be  severe  on  the  faults  of  Lucy's  brother,  to 
Lucy's  own  ear;  "perhaps  I  might  add,  that  I  have  known 
he  pays  too  much  attention  to  fashion,  and  the  opinions  of 
fashionable  people." 

"  Nay,  as  we  cannot  deceive  ourselves,  let  us  not  attempt 
the  ungrateful  task  of  endeavouring  to  deceive  each  other," 
that  true-hearted  girl  replied,  though  she  said  this  with  so 
great  an  effort,  that  I  was  compelled  to  listen  attentively  to 
catch  all  she  uttered.  "  Rupert  has  failings  worse  than 
these.  He  is  mercenary  ;  nor  is  he  always  a  man  of  truth. 
Heaven  knows,  how  I  have  wept  over  these  defects  of  cha 
racter,  and  the  pain  they  have  given  me  from  childhood ! 
But,  my  dear,  dear  father  overlooks  them  all  —  or,  rather, 
6* 


06  MILES      WALLIN  G  FORD. 

seeing  them,  he  hopes  all  things ;  it  is  hard  for  a  parent  to 
believe  a  child  irreclaimable." 

I  was  unwilling  to  let  Lucy  say  any  more  on  this  subject, 
for  her  voice,  her  countenance,  I  might  almost  say  her  whole 
figure  showed  how  much  it  cost  her  to  say  even  this  much 
of  Rupert.  I  had  long  known  that  Lucy  did  not  respect 
her  brother  as  much  as  she  could  wish ;  but  this  was  never 
before  betrayed  to  me  in  words,  nor  in  any  other  manner, 
indeed,  that  would  not  have  eluded  the  observation  of  one 
who  knew  the  parties  less  thoroughly  than  myself.  I  could 
perceive  that  she  felt  the  awful  consequences  she  foresaw 
from  her  brother's  conduct  gave  me  a  claim  on  her  sincerity, 
and  that  she  was  suffering  martyrdom,  in  order  to  do  all 
that  lay  in  her  own  power  to  lessen  the  force  of  the  blow 
that  unworthy  relative  had  inflicted.  It  would  have  been 
ungenerous  in  me  to  suffer  such  a  sacrifice  to  continue  a 
moment  longer  than  was  necessary. 

"  Spare  yourself,  and  me,  dearest  Lucy,"  I  eagerly  said, 
"  all  explanations  but  those  which  are  necessary  to  let  me 
know  the  exact  state  of  my  sister's  case.  I  confess,  I  could 
wish  to  understand,  however,  the  manner  in  which  Rupert 
has  contrived  to  explain  away  an  engagement  that  has  lasted 
four  years,  and  which  must  have  been  the  source  of  so  much 
innocent  confidence  between  Grace  and  himself." 

"  I  was  coming  to  that,  Miles ;  and  when  you  know  it, 
you  will  know  all.  Grace  has  felt  his  attentions  to  Emily 
Merton,  for  a  long  time ;  but  there  never  was  a  verbal 
explanation  between  them  until  just  before  she  left  town. 
Then  she  felt  it  due  to  herself  to  know  the  truth ;  and,  after 
a  conversation  which  was  not  very  particular,  your  sister 
offered  to  release  Rupert  from  his  engagement,  did  he  in 
the  least  desire  it." 

"  And  what  answer  did  he  make  to  a  proposal  that  was 
as  generous  as  it  was  frank  V 

"  I  must  do  Grace  the  justice  to  say,  Miles,  that,  in  all 
she  said,  she  used  the  utmost  tenderness  towards  my  bro 
ther.  Still,  I  could  not  but  gather  the  substance  of  what 
passed.  Rupert,  at  first,  affected  to  believe  that  Grace, 
herself,  wished  to  break  the  engagement ;  but,  in  this,  you 
well  know,  h^r  ingenuous  simplicity  would  not  permit  him 


MILES     WALLINQFORD.  67 

to  succeed.  She  did  not  attempt  to  conceal  how  deeply  she 
shouli  feel  the  change  in  her  situation,  and  how  much  it 
might  influence  her  future  happiness." 

"  Ay,  that  was  like  both  of  them  —  like  Rupert,  and  like 
Grace,"  I  muttered,  huskily. 

Lucy  continued  silent  an  instant,  apparently  to  allow  me 
to  regain  my  self-command ;  then  she  continued — 

«'  When  Rupert  found  that  the  responsibility  of  the  rup 
ture  must  rest  on  him,  he  spoke  more  sincerely.  He  owned 
to  Grace  that  his  views  had  changed ;  said  they  were  both 
too  young  to  contract  themselves  when  they  did,  and  that 
he  had  made  an  engagement  to  marry,  at  a  time  when  he 
was  unfit  to  bind  himself  to  so  solemn  a  contract — said 
something  about  minors,  and  concluded  by  speaking  of  his 
poverty  and  total  inability  to  support  a  wife,  now  that  Mrs. 
Bradfort  had  left  me  the  whole  of  her  property." 

"  And  this  is  the  man  who  wishes  to  make  the  world  be 
lieve  that  he  is  the  true  heir!  —  nay,  who  told  me,  himself, 
that  he  considers  you  as  only  a  sort  of  trustee,  to  hold  half, 
or  two-thirds  of  the  estate,  until  he  has  had  leisure  to  sow 
his  wild  oats !" 

*'  I  know  he  has  encouraged  such  notions,  Miles,"  Lucy 
answered,  in  a  low  voice ;  "  how  gladly  would  I  realize  his 
hopes,  if  things  could  be  placed  where  we  once  thought  they 
were  !  Every  dollar  of  Mrs.  Bradfort's  fortune  would  I  re 
linquish  with  joy,  to  see  Grace  happy,  or  Rupert  honest." 

"  I  am  afraid  we  shall  never  see  the  first,  Lucy,  in  this 
evil  world  at  least." 

11 1  have  never  wished  for  this  engagement,  since  I  have 
been  old  enough  to  judge  of  my  brother's  true  character. 
He  would  ever  have  been  too  fickle,  and  of  principles  too 
light,  to  satisfy  Grace's  heart,  or  her  judgment.  There  may 
have  been  some  truth  in  his  plea  that  the  engagement  was 
too  early  and  inconsiderately  made.  Persons  so  young  can 
hardly  know  what  will,  or  what  will  not  be  necessary  to 
their  own  characters,  a  few  years  later.  As  it  is,  even 
Grace  would  now  refuse  to  marry  Rupert.  She  owned  to 
me,  that  the  heaviest  part  of  the  blow  was  being  undeceived 
in  relation  to  his  character.  I  spoke  to  her  with  greater 
freedom  than  a  sister  ought  to  have  used,  perhaps,  but  I 
wished  to  arouse  her  pride,  as  the  means  of  saving  her. 


68  MILES    WALLINOFORD. 

A.las!  Grace  is  all  affections,  and  those  once  withered,  I 
fear,  Miles,  the  rest  of  her  being  will  go  with  them." 

I  made  no  answer  to  this  prophetic  remark,  Lucy's  visit 
to  the  shore,  her  manner,  and  all  that  she  had  said,  con 
vincing  me  that  she  had,  in  a  great  degree,  taken  leave  of 
hope.  We  conversed  some  time  longer,  returning  toward 
the  cottage;  but  there  was  nothing  further  to  communicate, 
that  it  is  necessary  to  record.  Neither  of  us  thought  of  self, 
and  I  would  as  soon  have  attempted  to  desecrate  a  church, 
as  attempt  to  obtain  any  influence  over  Lucy,  in  my  own 
behalf,  at  such  a  moment.  All  my  feelings  reverted  to  my 
poor  sister  again,  and  I  was  dying  with  impatience  to  return 
to  the  sloop,  whither,  indeed,  it  was  time  to  repair,  the  sun 
having  some  time  before  disappeared,  while  even  the  twilight 
was  drawing  to  a  close. 


CHAPTER   V. 

"The  serpent  of  the  field,  by  art 
And  spells,  is  won  from  harming , 
But  that  which  coils  around  the  heart, 
Oh !  who  hath  power  of  charming  ?" 

Hebrew  Melodiet 

IT  was  not  easy  to  make  Mr.  Hardinge  a  sharer  in  my 
impatience.  He  had  taken  a  fancy  to  Marble,  and  was  as 
much  rejoiced  at  this  accidental  discovery  of  the  mate's  pa 
rcntage,  as  if  he  had  been  one  of  the  family  himself.  With 
such  feelings,  therefore,  I  had  a  good  deal  of  difficulty  in 
getting  him  away.  I  asked  Marble  to  go  off  with  me,  it 
being  understood  that  he  was  to  be  landed  again,  in  order 
to  pass  the  first  night  of  his  recognition  under  his  mother's 
roof.  To  this  scheme,  however,  he  raised  an  objection,  as 
soon  as  told  it  was  my  intention  to  go  down  the  river  as  far 
as  New  York,  in  quest  of  further  medical  advice,  insisting 
on  accompanying  me,  in  order  to  obtain  the  thousand  dol 
lars  with  which  to  face  'Squire  Van  Tassd,  or,  at  least,  his 


Ml  L  E  S     WALLINOFORD.  69 

mortgage  sale.  Accordingly,  there  were  leave-takings,  and 
about  eight  we  were  all  on  board  the  sloop. 

I  did  not  see,  nor  did  I  ask  to  see,  my  sister  again,  that 
night.  I  had  not  seen  her,  indeed,  since  the  moment  Rupert 
was  discovered  in  company  with  the  Mertons ;  and,  to  own 
the  truth,  I  felt  afraid  to  see  her,  knowing,  as  I  did,  how 
much  her  frame  was  apt  to  be  affected  by  her  mind.  It 
appeared  to  me  there  remained  but  the  single  duty  to  per 
form,  that  of  getting  below  as  fast  as  possible,  in  order  to 
obtain  the  needed  medical  aid.  It  is  true,  we  possessed 
Post's  written  instructions,  and  knew  his  opinion  that  the 
chief  thing  was  to  divert  Grace's  thoughts  from  dwelling  on 
the  great  cause  of  her  malady ;  but,  now  he  had  left  us,  it 
seemed  as  if  I  should  neglect  a  most  sacred  duty,  did  I  delay 
obtaining  some  other  competent  physician. 

The  tide  turned  at  nine,  and  we  got  immediately  under 
way,  with  a  light  south-west  wind.  As  for  Marble,  ignorant 
as  Mr.  Hardinge  himself  of  the  true  condition  of  my  sister, 
he  determined  to  celebrate  his  recent  discoveries  by  a  sup 
per.  I  was  about  to  object  to  the  project,  on  account  of 
Grace,  but  Lucy  begged  me  to  let  him  have  his  way ;  such 
convives  as  my  late  guardian  and  my  own  mate  were  not 
likely  to  be  very  boisterous ;  and  she  fancied  that  the  con 
versation,  or  such  parts  of  it  as  should  be  heard  through  the 
bulk-head,  might  serve  to  divert  the  invalid's  mind  from 
dwelling  too  intently  on  the  accidental  rencontre  of  the 
morning.  The  scheme  was  consequently  carried  out;  and, 
in  the  course  of  an  hour,  the  cabins  of  the  Wallingford  pre 
sented  a  singular  spectacle.  In  her  berth  was  Grace,  pa 
tiently  and  sweetly  lending  herself  to  her  friend's  wish  to 
seem  to  listen  to  her  own  account  of  the  reason  of  the  mate's 
festa,  and  to  be  amused  by  his  sallies ;  Lucy,  all  care  and 
attention  for  her  patient,  as  I  could  discover  through  the 
open  door  of  the  after-cabin,  while  she  endeavoured  to  ap 
pear  to  enter  into  the  business  that  was  going  on  at  the  table, 
actually  taking  wine  with  the  mate,  and  drinking  to  the 
happiness  of  his  newly-found  relatives;  Mr.  Hardinge,  over 
flowing  with  philanthropy,  and  so  much  engrossed  with  his 
companion's  good  fortune  as  not  to  think  of  aught  else  at 
the  moment;  Marble,  himself,  becoming  gradually  more 
under  the  influence  of  his  new  situation,  as  his  feelings  had 


70  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

time  to  gather  force  and  take  their  natural  direction  ;  whil 
I  was  compelled  to  wear  the  semblance  of  joining  in  his 
festivities,  at  an  instant  when  my  whole  soul  was  engrossed 
with  anxiety  on  behalf  of  Grace. 

"  This  milk  is  just  the  richest  and  best  that  ever  came  on 
board  a  vessel !"  exclaimed  the  mate,  as  he  was  about  to 
wind  up  his  own  share  of  the  repast  with  a  cup  of  coffee— - 
"  and  as  for  butter,  I  can  say  I  never  tasted  the  article  be 
fore.  Little  Kitty  brought  both  down  to  the  boat  with  her 
own  hands,  and  that  makes  them  so  much  the  sweeter,  too, 
for,  if  anything  can  add  to  the  excellence  of  eatables,  it  is  to 
have  them  pass  through  the  hands  of  one's  own  relations. 
I  dare  say,  Mr.  Hardinge,  now,  you  have  verified  this,  time 
and  again,  in  your  own  experience?" 

"  In  feeling,  my  friend ;  in  feeling,  often,  though  little  in 
practice,  in  the  sense  that  you  mean.  My  family  has  been 
my  congregation,  unless,  indeed,  Miles  here,  and  his  be 
loved  sister,  can  be  added  to  my  own  children  in  fact,  as 
they  certainly  are  in  affection.  But,  I  can  understand  how 
butter  made  by  the  hands  of  one's  own  mother,  or  by  those 
of  such  a  pretty  niece  as  your  Kitty,  would  taste  all  the 
sweeter." 

"  It 's  such  a  providential  thing,  as  you  call  it,  to  find 
such  a  mother  in  the  bargain !  Now  I  might  have  discovered 
a  slattern,  or  a  scold,  or  a  woman  of  bad  character;  or  one 
that  never  went  to  church;  or  even  one  that  swore  and 
drank ;  for,  begging  your  pardon,  Miss  Lucy,  just  such 
creator's  are  to  be  met  with ;  whereas,  instead  of  any  of 
these  disagreeable  recommendations,  I  've  fallen  in  with  an 
A.  No.  1.  mother;  ay,  and  such  an  old  lady  as  the  king  of 
England,  himself,  need  not  be  ashamed  to  own.*  I  felt  a 
strong  desire,  Mr.  Hardinge,  to  get  down  on  my  knees,  and 
to  ask  the  dear,  good  old  soul,  just  to  say,  *  God  bless  you, 
my  dear  son,  Moses,  Van  Duzer,  or  Oloff,  whatever  your 
name  may  be." 

"  And  if  you  had,  Mr.  Marble,  you  would  not  have  been 
any  the  worse  for  it.  Such  feelings  do  you  honour,  and 

*  In  that  day,  all  allusions  to  royalty  were  confined  to  the  Majesty 
of  Great  Britain;  it  being  no  uncommon  thing,  at  the  commencement 
of  this  century,  to  hear  "  The  King"  toasted  at  many  of  the  best  tables 
of  the  country. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  71 

no  man  need  be  ashamed  of  desiring  to  receive  a  parent's 
blessing." 

"  I  suppose  now,  my  dear  sir,"  added  Marble,  innocently, 
"  that  is  what  is  called  having  a  religious  turn?  I  've  often 
foreseen,  that  religion  would  fetch  me  up,  in  the  long  run ; 
and  now  that  1  am  altogether  relieved  from  bitterness  of 
heart  on  the  subject  of  belonging  to  none,  and  no  one's  be 
longing  to  me,  my  sentiments  have  undergone  a  great  alter 
ation,  and  I  feel  a  wish  to  be  at  peace  with  the  whole  human 
famjly  —  no,  not  with  the  whole  ;  I  except  that  rascally  old 
Van  Tassel." 

"  You  must  except  no  one  —  we  are  told  to  *  love  those 
that  hate  us,  to  bless  those  that  curse  us,  and  to  pray  for 
those  that  despitefully  use  us.' " 

Marble  stared  at  Mr.  Hardinge ;  for,  to  own  the  truth,  it 
would  have  been  difficult,  in  a  Christian  land,  to  meet  with 
one  of  his  years  who  had  less  religious  instruction  than  him 
self.  It  is  quite  probable  that  these  familiar  mandates  had 
never  been  heard  by  him  before ;  but  I  could  see  that  he 
was  a  little  struck  with  the  profound  morality  that  pervaded 
them  ;  a  morality  to  which  no  human  heart  appears  to  be  so 
insensible  as  not  in  secret  to  acknowledge  its  sublimity. 
Still  he  doubted. 

"  Where  are  we  told  to  do  this,  my  dear  sir?"  demanded 
Marble,  after  looking  intently  at  the  rector  for  a  moment. 

"  Where?  why,  where  we  get  all  our  divine  precept  and 
inspired  morality,  the  bible.  You  must  come  to  wish  this 
Mr.  Van  Tassel  good,  instead  of  evil ;  try  to  love,  instead 
of  hating  him." 

"  Is  that  religion?"  demanded  the  mate,  in  his  most  dog 
matical  and  determined  manner. 

"  It  is  Christianity  —  its  spirit,  its  very  essence ;  without 
which  the  heart  cannot  be  right,  let  the  tongue  proclaim 
what  delusion  it  may." 

Marble  had  imbibed  a  sincere  respect  for  my  late  guar 
dian,  equally  from  what  he  had  heard  me  say  in  his  favour 
and  what  he  had  seen  himself,  of  his  benevolent  feelings 
kind-hearted  morality,  and  excellent  sense.  Nevertheless, 
it  was  not  an  easy  matter  to  teach  a  being  like  Marble  the 
lesson  that  he  was  to  do  good  to  those  who  used  him  de 
spitefully;  and  just  at  that  moment  he  was  in  a  frame  of 


V  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

mind  to  do  almost  anything  else,  sooner  than  pardon  Van 
Tassel.  All  this  I  could  see,  understanding  the*  man  so  well- 
and,  in  order  to  prevent  a  useless  discussion  that  might  dis 
turb  my  sister,  I  managed  to  change  the  discourse  before  it 
was  too  late ;  I  say  too  late,  because  it  is  not  easy  to  shake 
off  two  moralists  who  sustain  their  doctrines  as  strongly  as 
Mr.  Hardinge  and  my  mate. 

"  I  am  glad  the  name  of  this  Mr.  Van  Tassel  has  been 
mentioned,"  I  observed,  "  as  it  may  be  well  to  have  your 
advice,  sir,  concerning  our  best  mode  of  proceeding  in  his 
affair." 

I  then  related  to  Mr.  Hardinge  the  history  of  the  mort 
gage,  and  the  necessity  there  was  for  promptitude,  inasmuch 
as  the  sale  was  advertised  for  the  ensuing  week.  My  late 
guardian  was  better  acquainted  with  the  country,  up  the 
river,  than  I  was  myself;  and  it  was  fortunate  the  subject 
was  broached,  as  he  soon  convinced  me  the  only  course  to 
be  pursued  was  to  put  Marble  ashore  at  Hudson,  where,  if 
too  late  for  the  regular  stage,  he  might  obtain  some  other 
conveyance,  and  proceed  to  town  by  land.  This  would 
barely  leave  him  time  to  transact  all  the  necessary  business, 
and  to  be  back  in  season  to  prevent  the  title  to  the  Willow 
Cove  from  passing  into  the  usurer's  grasp.  As  was  usual 
with  Mr.  Hardinge,  he  entered  into  this,  as  into  every  good 
work,  heart  and  hand,  and  immediately  set  about  writing 
directions  for  Marble's  government  when  he  got  ashore. 
This  put  an  end  to  the  banquet,  and  glad  was  I  to  see  the 
table  removed,  and  the  other  signs  of  a  tranquil  night  re 
appear. 

It  was  twelve  before  the  sloop  was  as  low  as  Hudson,  and 
I  saw  by  our  rate  of  sailing,  that,  indeed,  there  was  little 
prospect  of  her  reaching  New  York  in  time  for  Marble's 
necessities.  He  was  landed,  therefore,  and  Mr.  Hardinge 
and  myself  accompanied  him  to  the  stage-house,  where  we 
ascertained  that  the  next  morning  after  breakfast  he  would 
be  enabled  to  get  into  the  stage,  which  would  reach  town  in 
the  evening  of  the  succeeding  day.  But  this  was  altogether 
too  slow  for  Marble's  impatience.  He  insisted  on  procuring 
a  private  conveyance,  and  we  saw  him  drive  out  of  the  long 
street  that  thea  composed  most  of  the  city  of  Hudson,  at  a 
slapping  pace,  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning.  This  im- 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  73 

portant  duty  discharged,  Mr.  Hardinge  and  I  returned  to 
the  sloop  in  which  Neb  had  been  standing  off  and  on,  in 
waiting  for  us,  and  again  made  sail  down  the  river.  When 
I  turned  in,  the  Wallingford  was  getting  along  at  the  rate 
of  about  five  miles  the  hour ;  the  wind  having  freshened, 
and  come  out  at  the  westward,  a  quarter  that  just  enabled 
her  to  lay  her  course. 

The  reader  will  easily  imagine  I  did  not  oversleep  myself 
the  following  morning.  My  uneasiness  was  so  great,  in 
deed,  that  I  dreamed  of  the  dreadful  accident  which  had 
produced  my  father's  death,  and  then  fancied  that  I  saw 
him,  my  mother,  and  Grace,  all  interred  at  the  same  time, 
and  in  the  same  grave.  Fortunately,  the  wind  stood  at  the 
west,  and  the  sloop  was  already  within  twenty  miles  of  the 
creek  at  Clawbonny,  when  I  got  on  deck.  All  was  quiet  in 
the  after-cabin  ;  and,  Mr.  Hardinge  still  continuing  in  his 
berth,  I  went  out  to  breathe  the  fresh  morning  air,  without 
speaking  to  any  below.  There  was  no  one  on  the  quarter, 
deck  but  the  pilot,  who  was  at  the  helm ;  though  I  saw  8 
pair  of  legs  beneath  the  boom,  close  in  with  the  mast,  tha: 
I  knew  to  be  Neb's,  and  a  neat,  dark  petticoat  that  I  fel. 
certain  must  belong  to  Chloe.  I  approached  the  spot,  in . 
tending  to  question  the  former  on  the  subject  of  the  weathei 
during  his  watch  ;  but,  just  as  about  to  hail  him,  I  heard 
the  young  lady  say,  in  a  more  animated  tone  than  was  dis 
creet  for  the  character  of  the  conversation — 

"  No,  nebber,  sah — nebber,  widout  de  apperbation  of  my 
modder  and  de  whole  famerly.  Mattermony  a  berry  differ 
i'mg,  Neb,  from  what  you  surposes.  Now,  many  a  young 
nigger  gentleman  imagine  dat  he  has  only  to  coax  his  gal 
to  say  '  yes,'  and  den  dey  goes  to  de  clergy  and  stands  up 
for  de  blessin',  and  imagines  all  right  for  de.  futur',  and  for 
de  present  time,  all  which  is  just  a  derlusion  and  a  dercep- 
tion.  No,  sah  ;  mattermony  a  berry  differ  t'ing  from  dat, 
as  any  old  lady  can  tell  you.  De  fuss  t'ing  in  mattermony, 
is  to  nab  a  consent." 

"  Well,  Chloe,  and  hab'n't  I  had  dis  berry  consent  fron 
you,  now  for  most  two  year  ?" 

"  Ay,  dat  not  de  consent  I  surposes.    Yoa  wouldn't  t'ink, 
Neb,  ongrateful  feller,  to  get  marry,  widout  first  askin'  do 
7 


74  MILES     WALLINGFOHD. 

consent  of  Masser  Mile,  I  do  surpose !  You,  who  has  been 
his  own  waiter  so  long,  and  has  gone  to  sea  wid  him  so 
often ;  and  has  saved  his  life;  and  has  helped  kill  so  many 
hateful  saverges ;  and  has  been  on  a  desert  conternent  wid 
him." 

"  I  nebber  told  you  dat,  Chloe — I  said  on  an  island." 

"Well,  what's  the  differ?  You  cannot  tell  me  anyt'ing 
of  edercation,  Neb ;  for  I  hab  hear  Miss  Grace  and  Miss 
Lucy  say  deir  lesson  so  often,  dat  I  sometime  surposes  I  can 
say  'em  all,  one  by  one,  almost  as  well  as  my  young  lady, 
'emselves.  No,  Neb ;  on  dat  subjeck  better  be  silent.  You 
been  much  too  busy,  ebber  to  be  edercated ;  and,  if  I  do 
marry  you,  remember  I  now  tell  you,  I  shall  not  enter  into 
mattermony  wid  you  on  account  of  any  edercation  you 
hab." 

"  All  Clawbonny  say  dat  we  can  make  as  good  a  couple, 
Chloe,  as  ebber  stood  up  togedder." 

"  All  Clawbonny  don't  know  much  of  mattermony,  Neb. 
People  talks  inderskrimernaterly,  and  doesn't  know  what  dey 
says,  too  often.  In  de  fuss  place  my  modder,  my  own  born 
modder,  upposes  our  uner,  and  dat  is  a  great  diflerculty  to 
begin  wid.  When  a  born  modder  upposes,  a  darter  ought 
to  t'ink  sebberal  time." 

"  Let  me  speak  to  Masser  Mile ;  he  '11  fetch  up  her  ob- 
jeckshun  wid  a  round  turn." 

"What  dat,  Neb?" 

"  It  mean  Masser  will  order  her  to  consent." 

"  Dat  nebber  saterfy  my  conscience,  Neb.  We  be  nigger, 
dat  true ;  but  no  Clawb6nny  master  ebber  tell  a  Clawbonny 
slabe  to  get  marry,  or  not  to  get  marry,  as  he  choose.  Dat 
would  be  intollabull,  and  not  to  be  supported  !  No ;  matter 
mony  is  religion ;  and  religion  free.  No  colour'  young  lady 
hab  vergin  affeckshun,  to  t'row  'em  away  on  just  whom  her 
masser  say.  But,  Neb,  dere  one  odder  diflerculty  to  our 
yner  dat  I  don't  know — sometime,  I  feel  awful  about  it !" 

As  Chloe  now  spoke  naturally,  for  the  first  time,  Neb  was 
evidently  startled ;  and  I  had  sufficient  amusement,  and 
sufficient  curiosity,  to  remain  stationary  in  order  to  hear 
what  this  new  obstacle  might  be.  The  voice  of  the  negresa 
was  music  itself;  almost  as  sweet  as  Lucy's;  and  I  was 
struck  \vith  a  slight  tremor  that  pervaded  it,  as  she  so  sud 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  75 

denly  put  an  end  to  all  her  own  affectation  of  sentiment,  and 
nipped  her  airs  and  graces,  as  it  might  be,  in  the  bud. 

"  Nebber  talk  to  me  of  mattermony,  Neb,"  Chloe  conti 
nued,  almost  sobbing  as  she  spoke,  "  while  Miss  Grace  be 
in  dis  berry  bad  way  !  It  hard  enough  to  see  her  look  so 
pale  and  melercholy,  widout  t'inldng  of  becomin'  a  wife." 

"  Miss  Grace  will  grow  better,  now  Masser  Mile  carry 
her  on  de  water.  If  he  only  take  her  to  sea,  she  get  so  fat 
and  hearty,  no  libbin'  wid  her !" 

Chloe  did  not  acquiesce  in  this  opinion ;  she  rather  insist 
ed  that  "  Miss  Grace"  was  altogether  too  delicate  and  refined 
a  person  to  live  in  a  ship.  But  the  circumstance  that  struck 
me  with  the  greatest  force,  in  this  characteristic  dialogue, 
was  the  fact  that  Chloe  betrayed  to  me  the  consciousness 
of  the  cause  of  my  sister's  indisposition ;  while  true  to  her 
sex's  instincts,  and  faithful  to  her  duty,  the  girl  completely 
concealed  it  from  her  lover.  I  was  also  oppressively  struck 
with  the  melancholy  forebodings  that  appeared  in  Chloe's 
manner,  rather  than  in  her  words,  and  which  made  it  appa 
rent  that  she  doubted  of  her  young  mistress's  recovery.  She 
concluded  the  conversation  by  saying — 

"  No,  no,  Neb  —  don't  talk  to  me  of  mattermony  while 
Miss  Grace  so  ill ;  and  if  any  t'ing  should  happen,  you  need 
nebber  talk  to  me  of  it,  at  all.  I  could  nebber  t'ink  of  any 
uner  (union)  should  any  t'ing  happen  to  Miss  Grace.  Lub 
(love)  will  die  forebber  in  de  family,  when  Miss  Grace  die  !" 

I  turned  away,  at  this  speech,  the  tears  starting  to  my 
eyes,  and  saw  Lucy  standing  in  the  companion-way.  She 
was  waiting  to  speak  to  me,  and  no  sooner  caught  my  eye, 
than  beckoning  me  to  her  side,  she  let  me  know  that  my 
sister  desired  to  see  me.  Erasing  every  sign  of  emotion  as 
soon  as  possible,  I  descended  with  Lucy,  and  was  soon  at 
the  side  of  my  sister's  berth. 

Grace  received  me  with  an  angelic  smile ;  but,  I  almost 
gasped  for  breath  as  I  noticed  the  prodigious  change  that 
had  come  over  her  in  so  brief  a  space.  She  now  looked 
more  like  a  being  of  another  world  than  ever ;  and  this,  too, 
immediately  after  coming  from  the  refreshment  of  a  night's 
rest.  I  kissed  her  forehead,  which  had  an  unnatural  chill 
on  it,  I  thought ;  and  I  felt  the  feeble  pressure  of  an  arm 
that  was  thrown  affectionately  round  my  neck.  I  then  sat 


76  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

down  on  the  transom,  still  holding  my  sister's  hand.  Grace 
looked  anxiously  at  me  for  half  a  minute,  ere  she  spoke,  as 
if  to  ascertain  how  far  I  was  conscious  of  her  situation. 

"  Lucy  tells  me,  brother,"  she  at  length  said,  «*  that  you 
think  of  carrying  me  down  the  river,  as  far  as  town,  in  order 
to  get  further  advice.  I  hope  this  is  a  mistake  of  our  dear 
Lucy's,  however?" 

"  It  is  not,  Grace.  If  the  wind  stand  here  at  the  west 
ward,  I  hope  to  have  you  in  Lucy's  own  house  in  Wall 
street,  by  to-morrow  evening.  I  know  she  will  receive  you 
hospitably,  and  have  ventured  to  form  the  plan  without  con 
sulting  you  on  the  subject." 

"  Better  that  I  should  be  at  Clawbonny — if  anything  can 
now  do  me  good,  brother,  it  will  be  native  air,  and  pure 
country  air.  Hearken  to  my  request,  and  stop  at  the 
creek." 

"  Your  serious  request,  Grace,  will  be  a  law  to  me,  if 
made  on  due  reflection.  This  growing  feebleness,  however, 
alarms  me;  and  I  cannot  justify  it  to  myself  not  to  send  for 
advice." 

"  Remember,  Miles,  it  is  not  yet  twenty-four  hours  since 
OLC  of  the  ablest  men  of  the  country  saw  me.  We  have  his 
written  instructions ;  and,  all  that  man  can  do  for  me,  they 
will  do  for  me.  No,  brother ;  listen  to  my  entreaties,  and 
go  into  the  creek.  I  pine,  I  pine  to  be  again  at  dear  Claw- 
bonny,  where  alone  I  can  enjoy  anything  like  peace  of  body 
or  mind.  This  vessel  is  unsuited  to  me ;  I  cannot  think  of 
a  future,  or  pray  in  it.  Brother,  dearest  brother,  carry  me 
home,  if  you  love  me  !" 

There  was  no  resisting  such  an  appeal.  I  went  on  deck 
with  a  heavy  heart,  and  gave  the  necessary  orders  to  the 
pilot ;  and,  in  about  eight-and-forty  hours  after  we  emerged 
into  the  Hudson,  we  left  that  noble  stream  again,  to  shoot 
beneath  the  shaded,  leafy  banks  of  our  own  inlet.  Grace 
was  so  feeble  as  to  be  carried  to  the  chaise,  in  which  she 
was  supported  by  Lucy,  during  the  short  drive  to  the  house. 
When  I  reached  my  own  dwelling,  I  found  Mr.  Hardinge 
pacing  the  little  portico,  or  piazza,  waiting  for  my  arrival, 
with  an  uneasiness  of  manner  that  at  once  proclaimed  his 
anxiety  to  see  me.  He  had  driven  the  horse  of  the  chaise, 
and  had  imbibed  a  first  impression  of  Grace's  danger. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  77 

u  Miles,  my  dear  boy  —  my  second  son"  —  the  simple- 
hearted,  excellent  old  man  commenced ;  "  Miles,  my  dear 
boy,  the  hand  of  God  has  been  laid  heavily  on  us  —  your 
beloved  sister,  my  own  precious  Grace,  is  far  more  ill  than 
I  had  any  idea  of,  before  this  morning." 

"  She  is  in  the  hands  of  her  merciful  Creator,"  I  said, 
struggling  to  command  myself,  "  who,  I  greatly  fear,  is 
about  to  call  her  from  a  world  that  is  not  good  enough  for 
one  so  innocent  and  pure,  to  take  her  to  himself.  I  have 
foreseen  this  from  the  hour  I  first  met  her,  after  my  return ; 
though  a  single  ray  of  hope  dawned  on  me,  when  Post  ad 
vised  the  change  of  scene.  So  far  from  producing  good, 
this  excursion  has  produced  evil ;  and  she  is  much  worse 
than  when  we  left  home." 

"  Such  short-sighted  mortals  are  we ! — But  what  can  we 
do,  my  boy?  —  I  confess  my  judgment,  my  faculties  them 
selves,  are  nearly  annihilated  by  the  suddenness  of  this 
shock.  I  had  supposed  her  illness  some  trifling  complaint 
that  youth  and  care  would  certainly  remove ;  and  here  we 
stand,  as  it  might  be,  at  the  call  of  the  trumpet's  blast, 
almost  around  her  grave !" 

"  I  am  most  anxious  to  lean  on  your  wisdom  and  expe 
rience,  my  dear  sir,  at  this  critical  moment ;  if  you  will 
advise,  I  shall  be  happy  to  follow  your  instructions." 

"  We  must  lean  on  God,  Miles,"  answered  my  worthy 
guardian,  still  pacing  the  piazza,  the  tears  running  down 
his  cheeks  in  streams,  and  speaking  so  huskily  as  barely  to 
be  intelligible ;  "  yes,  we  will  have  the  prayers  of  the  con 
gregation  next  Sunday  morning;  and  most  devout  and 
heartfelt  prayers  they  will  be ;  for  her  own  sainted  mother 
was  not  more  deservedly  loved  1  To  be  called  away  so 
young — to  die  in  the  first  bloom  of  youth  and  loveliness,  as 
it  were — but,  it  is  to  go  to  her  God  !  We  must  endeavour  to 
think  of  her  gain  —  to  rejoice  over,  rather  than  mourn  her 
loss." 

"  I  grieve  to  perceive  that  you  regard  my  sister's  case  as 
so  entirely  hopeless,  sir." 

"  Hopeless  ! — It  is  full  of  the  brightest  promise ;  and  when 

T  come  to  look  calmly  at  it,  my  reason  tells  me  I  ought  not 

to  grieve.     Still,  Miles,  the  loss  of  Lucy,  herself,  would 

scarce  be  a  more  severe  blow  to  me.    I  have  loved  her  from 

7* 


78  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

childhood,  cared  for  her  as  for  one  of  my  own,  and  feel  the 
same  love  for  her  that  I  should  feel  for  a  second  daughter. 
Your  parents  were  dear  to  me,  and  their  children  have 
always  appeared  to  me  to  belong  to  my  own  blood.  Had  I 
not  been  your  guardian,  boy,  and  you  and  Grace  been  com 
paratively  so  rich,  while  I  and  mine  were  so  poor,  it  would 
have  been  the  first  wish  of  my  heart  to  have  seen  Rupert 
and  Grace,  you  and  Lucy,  united,  which  would  have  made 
you  all  my  beloved  children  alike.  T  often  thought  of  this, 
until  I  found  it  necessary  to  repress  the  hope,  lest  I  should 
prove  unfaithful  to  my  trust.  Now,  indeed,  Mrs.  Bradfort'* 
bequest  might  have  smoothed  over  every  difficulty ;  but  b 
came  too  late !  It  was  not  to  be  j  Providence  had  orderei 
otherwise." 

"  You  had  an  ardent  supporter  of  your  scheme  in  one  01 
your  children,  at  least,  sir." 

"  So  you  have  given  me  to  understand,  Miles,  and  I  re. 
gret  that  I  was  informed  of  the  fact  so  late,  or  I  might  hav* 
contrived  to  keep  off  other  young  men  while  you  were  a\ 
sea,  or  until  an  opportunity  offered  to  enable  you  to  secure 
my  daughter's  affections.  That  done,  neither  time  nor  dis 
tance  could  have  displaced  you  ;  the  needle  not  being  more 
true  than  Lucy,  or  the  laws  of  nature  more  certain." 

"  The  knowledge  of  these  sterling  qualities,  sir,  only 
makes  me  regret  my  having  come  too  late,  so  much  the 
more." 

"  It  was  not  to  be ; — at  one  time,  I  did  think  Rupert  and 
Grace  had  a  preference  for  each  other  j  but  I  must  have 
been  deceived.  God  had  ordered  it  otherwise,  and  wisely 
no  doubt ;  as  his  omniscience  foresaw  the  early  drooping  of 
this  lovely  flower.  I  suppose  their  having  been  educated 
together,  so  much  like  brother  and  sister,  has  been  the  rea 
son  there  was  so  much  indifference  to  each  other's  merits. 
You  have  been  an  exception  on  account  of  your  long  ab 
sences,  Miles,  and  you  must  look  to  those  absences  for  the 
consolation  and  relief  you  will  doubtless  require.  Alas ! 
alas !  that  I  could  not  now  fold  Grace  to  my  heart,  as  a 
daughter  and  a  bride,  instead  of  standing  over  her  grave ! 
Nothing  but  Rupert's  diffidence  of  his  own  claims,  during 
our  days  of  poverty,  could  have  prevented  him  from  sub 
mitting  himself  to  so  much  loveliness  and  virtue.  I  acquit 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  79 

Jhe   ad  of  insensibility ;  for  nothing  but  the  sense  of  poverty 
and  the  pride  of  a  poor  gentleman,  added  perhaps  to  the 
brotherly  regard  he  has  always  felt  for  Grace,  could  have 
kept  him  from  seeking  her  hand,     Grace,  properly  enough, 
would  have  requited  his  affection," 

Such  is  a  specimen  of  the  delusion  under  which  we  live, 
daily.  Here  was  my  sister  dying  of  blighted  affections, 
under  my  own  roof;  and  the  upright,  conscientious  father 
of  the  wretch  who  had  produced  this  withering  evil,  utterly 
unconscious  of  the  wrong  that  had  been  done ;  still  regarding 
his  son  with  the  partiality  and  indulgence  of  a  fond  parent. 
To  rne,  it  seemed  incredible  at  the  time,  that  unsuspecting 
integrity  could  carry  its  simplicity  so  far;  but  I  have  since 
lived  long  enough  to  know  that  mistakes  like  these  are  con 
stantly  occurring  around  us;  effects  being  hourly  attributed 
to  causes  with  which  they  have  no  connection ;  and  causes 
being  followed  down  to  effects,  that  are  as  imaginary  as 
human  sagacity  is  faulty.  As  for  myself,  I  can  safely  say, 
that  in  scarce  a  circumstance  of  my  life,  that  has  brought 
me  the  least  under  the  cognizance  of  the  public,  have  I  ever 
been  judged  justly.  In  various  instances  have  I  been  praised 
for  acts  that  were  either  totally  without  any  merit,  or,  at 
least,  the  particular  merit  imputed  to  them ;  while  I  have 
been  even  persecuted  for  deeds  that  deserved  praise.  An 
instance  or  two  of  the  latter  of  these  cases  of  the  false  judg 
ment  of  the  world  witl  be  laid  before  the  reader  as  I  pro 
ceed. 

Mr.  Hardinge  continued  for  sonae  time  to  expatiate  on  the 
loveliness  of  Grace's  character,  and  to  betray  the  weight  of 
the  blow  he  had  received,  in  gaining  this  sudden  knowledge 
of  her  danger.  He  seemed  to  pass  all  at  once  from  a  state 
of  inconsiderate  security  to  ose  of  total  hopelessness,  and 
found  the  shock  so  much  harder  to  endure.  At  length  he 
sent  for  Lucy,  with  whom  he  continued  closeted  for  near  an 
hour.  I  ascertained,  afterwards,  that  he  questioned  the  dear 
girl  closely  on  the  subject  of  rny  sister's  malady  ;  even  de 
siring  to  know  if  her  affections  were  any  way  connected 
with  this  extraordinary  sinking  of  the  vital  powers  ;  but  not 
in  the  slightest  degree  inclining  to  the  distrust  of  Rupert's 
being  in  any  manner  implicated  in  the  affair.  Lucy,  truth- 
fill  and  frank  as  she  was,  felt  the  useJessness,  nay,  the 


80  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

danger,  of  enlightening  her  father,  and  managed  to  evade 
all  his  more  delicate  inquiries,  without  involving  herself  in 
falsehoods.  She  well  knew,  if  he  were  apprised  of  the  real 
state  of  the  case,  that  Rupert  would  have  been  sent  for;  and 
every  reparation  it  was  in  his  power  to  make  would  have 
been  insisted  on,  as  an  act  of  justice ;  a  hopeless  and  dis 
tressing  attempt  to  restore  the  confidence  of  unbounded  love, 
and  the  esteem  which,  once  lost,  is  gone  forever.  Perhaps 
the  keenest  of  all  Grace's  sufferings  proceeded  from  the  con 
sciousness  of  the  total  want  of  merit  in  the  man  she  had  so 
effectually  enshrined  in  her  heart,  that  he  could  only  be 
ejected  by  breaking  in  pieces  and  utterly  destroying  the 
tenement  that  had  so  long  contained  him.  .With  ordinary 
notions,  this  change  of  opinion  might  have  sufficed  for  the 
purposes  of  an  effectual  cure  ;  but  my  poor  sister  was  differ 
ently  constituted.  She  had  ever  been  different  from  most  of 
her  sex,  in  intensity  of  feeling;  and  had  come  near  dying, 
while  still  a  child,  on  the  occasion  of  the  direful  catastrophe 
of  my  father's  loss ;  and  the  decease  of  even  our  mother, 
though  long  expected,  had  come  near  to  extinguish  the  flame 
of  life  in  the  daughter.  As  I  have  already  said  more  than 
once,  a  being  so  sensitive  and  so  pure,  ever  seemed  better 
fitted  for  the  regions  of  bliss,  than  for  the  collisions  and 
sorrows  of  the  world. 

Now  we  were  at  Clawbonny  again,  I  scarce  knew  how 
to  emp-loy  myself.  Grace  I  could  not  see ;  Lucy,  who  took 
the  entire  management  of  the  invalid,  requiring  for  her  rest 
and  quiet.  In  this  she  did  but  follow  the  directions  of  rea 
son,  as  well  as  those  left  by  Post ;  and  I  was  fain  to  yield, 
knowing  that  my  sister  could  not  possibly  have  a  more  judi 
cious  or  a  more  tender  nurse. 

The  different  persons  belonging  to  the  mill  and  the  farm 
came  to  me  for  directions,  which  I  was  compelled  to  give 
with  thoughts  engrossed  with  the  state  of  my  sister.  More 
than  once  I  endeavoured  to  arouse  myself;  and,  for  a  few 
minutes,  seemed,  to  enter,  if  I  did  not  truly  enter,  with  in 
terest  into  the  affairs  presented  to  my  consideration ;  but, 
these  little  rallies  were  merely  so  many  attempts  at  self- 
delusion,  and  I  finally  referred  everything  to  the  respective 
persons  entrusted  with  the  different  branches  of  the  duty 


MILESWALLINOFORD.  81 

bidding  them  act  as  they  had  been  accustomed  to  do  in  my 
absence. 

"  Why,  yes,  Masser  Mile,"  answered  the  old  negro  who 
was  the  head  man  in  the  field,  "  dis  berry  well,  if  he  can  do 
it.  Remember  I  alway  hab  Masser  Hardinge  to  talk  to  me 
about  'e  crop,  and  sich  t'ing,  and  dat  a  won'erfui  help  to  a 
poor  nigger  when  he  in  a  nonplush." 

"  Surely,  Hiram,  you  are  a  better  husbandman  than  Mr. 
Hardinge  and  myself  put  together,  and  cannot  want  the 
advice  of  either  to  tell  you  how  to  raise  corn,  or  to  get  in 
hay !" 

"  Dat  berry  true,  sah  —  so  true,  I  wont  deny  him.  But, 
you  know  how  it  be,  Masser  Mile ;  a  nigger  do  lub  to  talk, 
and  it  help  along  work  won'erfully,  to  get  a  good  dispute, 
afore  he  begin." 

As  respects  the  blacks,  this  was  strictly  true.  Though  as 
respectful  as  slavery  and  habit  could  make  them,  they  were 
so  opinionated  and  dogmatical,  each  in  his  or  her  sphere, 
that  nothing  short  of  a  downright  assertion  of  authority 
could  produce  submission  to  any  notions  but  their  own. 
They  loved  to  argue  the  different  points  connected  with  their 
several  duties,  but  they  did  not  like  to  be  convinced.  Mr. 
Hardinge  would  discuss  with  them,  from  a  sense  of  duty, 
and  he  would  invariably  yield,  unless  in  cases  that  involved 
moral  principles.  On  all  such  points,  and  they  were  not  of 
unfrequent  occurrence  in  a  family  of  so  many  blacks,  he 
was  as  inflexible  as  the  laws  of  the  Medes  and  Persians  ; 
but,  as  respected  the  wheat,  the  potatoes,  the  orchards,  the 
mill,  or  the  sloop,  he  usually  submitted  to  the  experience  of 
those  more  familiar  with  the  business,  after  having  discussed 
the  matters  in  council.  This  rendered  him  exceedingly 
popular  at  Clawbonny,  the  persuaded  usually  having  the 
same  sort  of  success  in  the  world  as  a  good  listener.  As  for 
the  rector  himself,  after  so  many  long  discussions,  he  began 
to  think  he  had  actually  influenced  the  different  steps  adopt 
ed  ;  the  cause  of  one  of  the  illusions  I  have  already  pour- 
trayed. 

Old  Hiram  did  not  quit  me  when  he  came  for  instructions, 
alias  a  "  dispute,"  without  a  word  of  inquiry  touching  Grace. 
I  could  see  that  the  alarm  had  passed  among  the  slaves,  and 
it  was  quite  touching  to  note  the  effect  it  produced  on  their 


62  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

simple  minds.  It  would  have  been  sufficient  for  them  to 
love  her,  that  Grace  was  their  young  mistress ;  but  such  a 
mistress  as  she  had  ever  been,  and  one  so  winning  in  man- 
ner  and  person,  they  might  be  said  almost  to  worship 
her. 

"  I  berry  sorry  to  hear  Miss  Grace  be  onwell,  sah,"  said 
old  Hiram,  looking  at  me  sorrowfully.  "  It  go  hard  wid  us 
all,  if  anyt'ing  happen  dere  !  I  alway  s'pose,  Masser  Mile, 
dat  Miss  Grace  and  Masser  Rupert  come  togeder,  some 
time ;  as  we  all  expects  you  and  Miss  Lucy  will.  Dem  are 
happy  days,  sah,  at  Clawbonny,  for  den  we  all  know  our 
new  masser  and  new  missus  from  de  cradle.  No,  no  —  we 
can  nebber  spare  Miss  Grace,  sah ;  even  I  should  miss  her 
in  'e  field !" 

The  very  blacks  had  observed  the  state  of  things  which 
had  deluded  my  poor  sister ;  and  the  slave  had  penetrated 
his  master's  secret.  I  turned  away  abruptly  from  the  negro, 
lest  he  should  also  detect  the  evidence  of  the  weakness  ex 
torted  by  his  speech,  from  the  eyes  of  manhood. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

"  Like  the  lily 

That  once  was  mistress  of  the  field,  and  flourished, 
I  '11  hang  my  head,  and  perish." 

Queen  Catherine. 

I  SAW  little  of  Lucy  that  night.  She  met  us  at  evening 
prayers,  and  tears  were  in  her  eyes  as  she  arose  from  her 
knees.  Without  speaking,  she  kissed  her  father  for  good 
night,  more  affectionately  than  ever,  I  thought,  and  then 
turned  to  me.  Her  hand  was  extended,  (we  had  seldom  met 
or  parted  for  eighteen  years,  without  observing  this  little  act 
of  kindness),  but  she  did  not  —  nay,  could  not,  speak.  I 
pressed  the  little  hand  fervently  in  my  own,  and  relinquished 
it  again,  in  the  same  eloquent  silence.  She  was  seen  no 
more  by  us  until  next  day. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  83 

The  breakfast  had  ever  been  a  happy  meal  at  Clawbonny. 
My  father,  though  merely  a  ship-master,  was  one  of  the 
better  class ;  and  he  had  imbibed  many  notions,  in  the  course 
of  his  different  voyages,  that  placed  him  much  in  advance 
of  the  ordinary  habits  of  his  day  and  country.  Then  an 
American  ship-master  is  usually  superior  to  those  of  other 
countries.  This  arises  from  some  of  the  peculiarities  of  our 
institutions,  as  well  as  from  the  circumstance  that  the  navy 
is  so  small.  Among  other  improvements,  my  father  had 
broken  in  upon  the  venerable  American  custom  of  swallow 
ing  a  meal  as  soon  as  out  of  bed.  The  breakfast  at  Claw- 
bonny,  from  my  earliest  infancy,  or  as  long  as  I  can 
remember,  had  been  eaten  'regularly  at  nine  o'clock,  a 
happy  medium  between  the  lasiraess  of  dissipation  and  the 
hurry  of  ill-formed  habits.  At  that  hour  the  whole  family 
used  to  meet,  still  fresh  from  a  night's  repose,  and  yet  enli 
vened  and  gay  by  an  hour  or  two  of  exercise  in  the  open 
air,  instead  of  coming  to  the  family  board  half  asleep,  with 
a  sort  of  drowsy  sulkiness,  as  if  t<he  meal  were  a  duty,  and 
not  a  pleasure.  We  ate  as  leisurely  as  keen  appetites  would 
permit ;  laughed,  cha-tted,  related  tke  events  of  the  morning, 
conversed  of  our  plans  for  the  day,  and  indulged  our  several 
tastes  and  humours,  like  people  who  had  been  up  and  stir 
ring,  and  not  like  so  many  drowsy  drones  swallowing  our 
food  for  form's  sake.  The  American  breakfast  has  been 
celebrated  by  several  modern  writers,  and  it  deserves  to  be, 
though  certainly  not  to  be  compared  to  that  of  France.  Still 
it  might  be  far  better  than  it  is,  did  our  people  understand 
the  mood  in  which  it  ought  to  be  enjoyed. 

While  on  this  subject,  the  reader  will  excuse  an  old  man's 
prolixity,  if  I  say  a  word  on  the  state  of  the  science  of  the 
table  in  general,  as  it  is  put  in  practice  in  this  great  republic. 
A  writer  of  this  country,  one  Mr.  Cooper,  has  somewhere 
said  that  the  Americans  are  the  grossest  feeders  in  the 
civilized  world,  and  warns  his  countrymen  to  remember  that 
a  national  character  may  be  formed  in  the  kitchen.  This 
remark  is  commented  on  by  Captain  Marryatt,  who  calls  it 
both  unjust  and  ill-natured.  As  for  the  ill-nature  I  shall 
say  nothing,  unless  it  be  to  remark  that  I  do  not  well  see 
how  that  which  is  undeniably  true  ought  to  be  thought  so 
rery  ill-natured.  That  it  is  true,  every  American  who  has 


84  MILES     WALLING  FORD, 

seen  much  of  other  lands  must  know.  Captain  Marryaft*; 
allegation  that  the  tables  are  good  in  the  large  towns,  hus 
nothing  to  do  with  the  merits  of  this  question.  The  larg»* 
American  towns  are  among  the  best  eating  and  drinking 
portions  of  the  world.  But  what  are  they  as  compared  to 
the  whole  country  1  What  are  the  public  tables,  or  the  tables 
of  the  refined,  as  compared  to  the  tables  of  the  mass,  even 
in  these  very  towns'?  All  things  are  to  be  judged  of  by  the 
rules,  and  not  by  the  exceptions.  Because  a  small  portion 
of  the  American  population  understand  what  good  cookery 
is,  it  by  no  means  follows  that  all  do.  Who  would  think  of 
saying  that  the  people  of -England  live  on  white  bait  and 
venison,  because  th<*  nobility  and  gentry  (the  aldermen  In 
clusive)  can  enjoy  both,  in  the  seasons,  ad  libitum  1  I 
suspect  this  Mr.  Cooper  knows  quite  as  well  what  he  is 
about,  when  writing  of  America,  as  any  European.  If  pork 
fried  in  grease,  and  grease  pervading  half  the  other  dishes, 
vegetables  cooked  without  any  art,  and  meats  done  to  rags, 
make  a  good  table,  then  is  this  Mr.  Cooper  wrong,  and 
Captain  Marryatt  right,  and  vice  versa.  As  yet,  while 
nature  has  done  so  much  in  America,  art  has  done  but 
little.  Much  compared  with  numbers  and  time,  certainly, 
but  little  as  compared  with  what  numbers  and  time  have 
done  elsewhere.  Nevertheless,  I  would  make  an  exception 
in  favour  of  America,  as  respects  the  table  of  one  country, 
though  not  so  much  in  connection  with  the  coarseness  of  the 
feeding  as  in  the  poverty  of  the  food.  I  consider  the  higher 
parts  of  Germany  to  be  the  portions  of  the  Christian  world 
where  eating  and  drinking  are  in  the  most  primitive  condi 
tion  ;  and  that  part  of  this  great  republic,  which  Mr.  Alison 
would  probably  call  the  State  of  New  England,  to  come 
next.  In  abundance  and  excellence  of  food  in  the  native 
form,  America  is  particularly  favoured ;  Baltimore  being  at 
the  very  nucleus  of  all  that  is  exquisite  in  the  great  business 
of  mastication.  Nevertheless,  the  substitution  of  cooks  from 
the  interior  of  New  England,  for  the  present  glistening 
tenants  of  her  kitchens,  would  turn  even  that  paradise  of 
the  epicure  into  a  sort  of  oleaginous  waste.  Enough  of 
cookery. 

Lucy  did  not  appear  at  prayers  next  morning !    I  felt  her 
absence  a*  one  feels  the  certainty  of  some  dreadful  evil. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  85 

Breakfast  was  announced  ;  still  Lucy  did  not  appear.  The 
table  was  smoking  and  hissing;  and  Romeo  Clawbonny, 
who  acted  as  the  everyday  house-servant,  or  footman,  had 
several  times  intimated  that  it  might  be  well  to  commence 
operations,  as  a  cold  breakfast  was  very  cold  comfort. 

"  Miles,  my  dear  boy,"  observed  Mr.  Hardinge,  after 
opening  the  door  to  look  for  the  absentee  half  a  dozen  times, 
"  we  will  wait  no  longer.  My  daughter,  no  doubt,  intends 
to  breakfast  with  Grace,  to  keep  the  poor  dear  girl  com 
pany  ;  for  it  is  dull  work  to  breakfast  by  oneself.  You  and 
I  miss  Lucy  sadly,  at  this  very  moment,  though  we  have 
each  other's  company  to  console  us." 

We  had  just  taken  our  seats,  when  the  door  slowly  open 
ed,  and  Lucy  entered  the  room. 

"  Good  morning,  dearest  father,"  said  the  sweet  girl,  pass 
ing  an  arm  round  Mr.  Hardinge's  neck,  with  more  than  her 
usual  tenderness  of  manner,  and  imprinting  a  long  kiss  on 
his  bald  head.  "  Good  morning,  Miles,"  stretching  towards 
me  a  hand,  but  averting  her  face,  as  afraid  it  might  reveal 
too  much,  when  exposed  fully  to  my  anxious  and  inquiring 
gaze.  "  Grace  passed  a  pretty  quiet  night,  and  is,  I  think,  a 
little  less  disturbed  this  morning  than  she  was  yesterday." 

Neither  of  us  answered  or  questioned  the  dear  nurse. 
What  a  breakfast  was  that,  compared  to  so  many  hundreds 
in  which  I  had  shared  at  that  very  table,  and  in  that  same 
room  !  Three  of  the  accustomed  faces  were  there,  it  is  true; 
all  the  appliances  were  familiar,  some  dating  as  far  back  as 
the  time  of  the  first  Miles  ;  Romeo,  now  a  grey-headed  and 
wrinkled  negro,  was  in  his  usual  place  ;  but  Chloe,  who  was 
accustomed  to  pass  often  between  her  young  mistress  and  a 
certain  closet,  at  that  meal,  which  never  seemed  to  have  all 
we  wanted  arranged  on  the  table  at  first,  was  absent,  as  was 
that  precious  "  young  mistress"  herself.  "  Gracious  Provi 
dence  !"  I  mentally  ejaculated,  "  is  it  thy  will  it  should  ever 
be  thus?  Am  I  never  again  to  see  those  dove-like  eyes 
turned  on  me  in  sisterly  affection  from  the  head  of  my  table, 
as  I  have  so  often  seen  them,  on  hundreds  and  hundreds  of 
occasions'?"  Lucy's  spirits  had  sometimes  caused  her  to 
laugh  merrily ;  and  her  musical  voice  once  used  to  mingle 
with  Rupert's  and  my  own  more  manly  and  deeper  notes, 
in  something  like  audible  mirth ;  not  that  Lucy  was  ever 
8 


86  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

boisterous  or  loud ;  but,  in  early  girlhood,  she  had  been  gay 
and  animated,  to  a  degree  that  often  blended  with  the  noisier 
clamour  of  us  boys.  With  Grace,  this  had  never  happened 
She  seldom  spoke,  except  in  moments  when  the  rest  were 
still ;  and  her  laugh  was  rarely  audible,  though  so  often 
heartfelt  and  joyous.  It  may  seem  strange  to  those  whc 
have  never  suffered  the  pang  of  feeling  that  such  a  customary 
circle  was  broken  up  forever ;  but,  that  morning,  the  first  in 
which  I  keenly  felt  that  my  sister  was  lost  to  me,  I  actually 
missed  her  graceful,  eloquent,  silence! 

"  Miles,"  said  Lucy,  as  she  rose  from  the  table,  tears 
trembling  on  her  eyelids  as  she  spoke,  "  half  an  hour  hence 
come  to  the  family  room.  Grace  wishes  to  see  you  there 
this  morning,  and  I  have  not  been  able  to  deny  her  request. 
She  is  weak,  but  thinks  the  visit  will  do  her  good.  Do  not 
fail  to  be  punctual,  as  waiting  might  distress  her.  Good 
morning,  dearest  papa ;  when  I  want  yow,  I  will  send  for 
you." 

Lucy  left  us  with  these  ominous  notices,  and  I  felt  the 
necessity  of  going  on  the  lawn  for  air.  I  walked  my  half- 
hour  out,  and  returned  to  the  house  in  time  to  be  punctual 
to  the  appointment.  Chloe  met  me  at  the  door,  and  led  the 
way  in  silence  towards  the  family  room.  Her  hand  was  no 
sooner  laid  on  the  latch  than  Lucy  appeared,  beckoning  me 
to  enter.  I  found  Grace  reclining  on  that  small  settee,  or 
causeuse,  on  which  we  had  held  our  first  interview,  looking 
pallid  and  uneasy,  but  still  looking  lovely  and  as  ethereal 
as  ever.  She  held  out  a  hand  affectionately,  and  then  I  saw 
her  glance  towards  Lucy,  as  if  asking  to  be  left  with  me 
alone.  As  for  myself,  I  could  not  speak.  Taking  my  old 
place,  I  drew  my  sister's  head  on  my  bosom,  and  sat  hold 
ing  it  in  silence  for  many  painful  minutes.  In  that  position 
I  could  conceal  the  tears  which  forced  themselves  from  my 
eyes,  it  exceeding  all  my  powers  to  repress  these  evidences 
of  human  grief.  As  I  took  my  place,  the  figure  of  Lucy 
disappeared,  and  the  door  closed. 

I  never  knew  how  long  a  time  Grace  and  I  continued  in 
that  tender  attitude.  I  was  not  in  a  state  of  mind  to  note 
such  a  fact,  and  have  since  striven  hard  to  forget  most  that 
occurred  in  that  solemn  interview.  After  a  lapse  of  so  many 
years,  however,  I  find  memory  painfully  accurate  on  all  the 


MILES   WALLING  FORD.  87 

leading  circumstances,  though  it  was  impossible  to  recall  a 
point  of  which  I  took  no  heed  at  the  moment.  Such  things 
only  as  made  an  impression  is  it  in  my  power  to  relate. 

When  Grace  gently,  and  I  might  add  faintly,  raised  her 
self  from  my  bosom,  she  turned  on  me  eyes  that  were 
filled  with  a  kind  anxiety  on  my  account  rather  than  on 
her  own. 

"  Brother,"  she  said,  earnestly,  "  the  will  of  God  must 
be  submitted  to — I  am  very,  very  ill — broken  in  pieces — I 
grow  weaker  every  hour.  It  is  not  right  to  conceal  such  a 
truth  from  ourselves,  or  from  each  other." 

I  made  no  reply,  although  she  evidently  paused  to  give 
me  an  opportunity  to  speak.  I  could  not  have  uttered  a 
syllable  to  have  saved  my  life.  The  pause  was  impressive, 
rather  than  long. 

"  I  have  sent  for  you,  dearest  Miles,"  my  sister  continued, 
"  not  that  I  think  it  probable  I  shall  be  called  away  soon 
or  suddenly — God  will  spare  me  for  a  little  while,  I  humbly 
trust,  in  order  to  temper  the  blow  to  those  I  love ;  but  he  is 
about  to  call  me  to  him,  and  we  must  all  be  prepared  for  it ; 
you,  and  dear,  dear  Lucy,  and  my  beloved  guardian,  as  well 
as  myself.  I  have  not  sent  for  you  even  to  tell  you  this ; 
for  Lucy  gives  me  reason  to  believe  you  expect  the  separa 
tion  ;  but  I  wish  to  speak  to  you  on  a  subject  that  is  very 
near  my  heart,  while  I  have  strength  and  fortitude  to  speak 
on  it  at  all.  Promise  me,  dearest,  to  be  calm,  and  to  listen 
patiently." 

"  Your  slightest  wish  will  be  a  law  to  me,  beloved,  most 
precious  sister ;  I  shall  listen  as  if  we  were  in  our  days  of 
childish  confidence  and  happiness  —  though  I  fear  those 
days  are  never  to  return  !" 

"  Feel  not  thus,  Miles,  my  noble- hearted,  manly  brother. 
Heaven  will  not  desert  you,  unless  you  desert  your  God ; 
it  does  not  desert  me,  but  angels  beckon  me  to  its  bliss ! 
Were  it  not  for  you  and  Lucy,  and  my  dear,  dear  guardian, 
the  hour  of  my  departure  would  be  a  moment  of  pure  felicity. 
But  we  will  not  talk  of  this  now.  You  must  prepare  your 
self,  Miles,  to  hear  me  patiently,  and  to  be  indulgent  to  my 
last  wishes,  even  should  they  seem  unreasonable  to  your 
mind  at  first." 

"  I  have  told  you,  Grace,  that  a  request  of  your's  will  be 


88  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

a  law  to  me ;  have  no  hesitation,  therefore,  in  letting  mo 
know  any,  or  all  your  wishes." 

"  Let  us,  then,  speak  of  worldly  things ;  for  the  last  time, 
I  trust,  my  brother.  Sincerely  do  I  hope  that  this  will  be 
the  last  occasion  on  which  I  shall  ever  be  called  to  allude  to 
them.  This  duty  discharged,  all  that  will  remain  to  me  on 
earth  will  be  the  love  I  bear  my  friends.  This  Heaven  itself 
will  excuse,  as  I  shall  strive  not  to  let  it  lessen  that  I  bear 
my  God." 

Grace  paused,  and  I  sat  wondering  what  was  to  follow, 
though  touched  to  the  heart  by  her  beautiful  resignation  to 
a  fate  that  to  most  so  young  would  seem  hard  to  be  borne. 

"  Miles,  my  brother,"  she  continued,  looking  at  me 
anxiously,  "  we  have  not  spoken  much  of  your  success  in 
your  last  voyage,  though  I  have  understood  that  you  have 
materially  increased  your  means." 

"  It  has  quite  equalled  my  expectations  ;  and,  rich  in  my 
ship  and  ready  money,  I  am  content,  to  say  nothing  of 
Clawbonny.  Do  what  you  will  with  your  own,  therefore, 
my  sister;  not  a  wish  of  mine  shall  ever  grudge  a  dollar; 
I  would  rather  not  be  enriched  by  your  loss.  Make  your 
bequests  freely,  and  I  shall  look  on  each  and  all  of  them  as 
so  many  memorials  of  your  affectionate  heart  and  many 
virtues." 

Grace's  cheeks  flushed,  and  I  could  see  that  she  was  ex 
tremely  gratified,  though  still  tremblingly  anxious. 

"  You  doubtless  remember  that  by  our  father's  will,  Miles, 
my  property  becomes  your's,  if  I  die  without  children  be 
fore  I  reach  the  age  of  twenty-one ;  while  your's  would  have 
been  mine  under  the  same  circumstances.  As  I  am  barely 
twenty,  it  is  out  of  my  power  to  make  a  legal  will." 

"  It  is  in  your  power  to  make  one  that  shall  be  equally 
binding,  Grace.  I  will  go  this  instant  for  pen,  ink,  and 
paper ;  and,  as  you  dictate,  will  I  write  a  will  that  shall  be 
even  more  binding  than  one  that  might  come  within  the 
rules  of  the  law." 

"  Nay,  brother,  that  is  unnecessary ;  all  I  wish  I  have 
already  said  in  a  letter  addressed  to  yourself;  and  which, 
should  you  now  approve  of  it,  will  be  found  among  my 
papers  as  a  memorandum.  But  there  should  be  no  misap 
prehension  between  you  and  me,  dearest  Miles.  I  do  not 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  69 

wish  you  even  fully  to  consent  to  my  wishes,  now ;  take 
time  to  consider,  and  let  your  judgment  have  as  much  in- 
fluence  on  your  decision  as  your  own  excellent  heart." 

"  I  am  as  ready  to  decide  at  this  moment  as  I  shall  be  a 
year  hence.  It  is  enough  for  me  that  you  wish  the  thing 
done,  to  have  it  done,  sister." 

"  Bless  you  —  bless  you  —  brother"  —  said  Grace,  affec 
tionately  pressing  my  hand  to  her  heart  — "  not  so  much 
that  you  consent  to  do  as  I  wish,  as  for  the  spirit  and  man 
ner  in  which  you  comply.  Still,  as  I  ask  no  trifle,  it  is 
proper  that  I  release  you  from  all  pledges  here  given,  and 
allow-you  time  for  reflection.  Then,  it  is  also  proper  yon 
should  know  the  full  extent  of  what  you  promise." 

"  It  is  enough  for  me  that  it  will  be  in  my  power  to  per. 
form  what  you  desire ;  further  than  that  I  make  no  stipula 
tion." 

I  could  see  that  Grace  was  profoundly  struck  with  this 
proof  of  my  attachment ;  but  her  own  sense  of  right  was 
too  just  and  active  to  suffer  the  matter  to  rest  there. 

"  I  must  explain  further,"  she  added.  "  Mr.  Hardinge 
has  been  a  most  faithful  steward ;  and,  by  means  of  eco 
nomy,  during  my  long  minority,  the  little  cost  that  has 
attended  my  manner  of  living,  and  some  fortunate  invest 
ments  that  have  been  made  of  interest-money,  I  find  myself 
a  good  deal  richer  than  I  had  supposed.  In  relinquishing 
my  property,  Miles,  you  will  relinquish  rather  more  than 
two-and-twenty  thousand  dollars ;  or  quite  twelve  hundred 
a  year.  There  ought  to  be  no  misapprehensions  on  this 
subject,  between  us;  least  of  all  at  such  a  moment." 

"  I  wish  it  were  more,  my  sister,  since  it  gives  you  plea 
sure  to  bestow  it.  If  it  will  render  you  any  happier  to  per 
fect  any  of  your  plans,  take  ten  thousand  of  my  own,  and 
add  to  the  sum  which  is  now  your's.  I  would  increase, 
rather  than  lessen  your  means  of  doing  good." 

"  Miles — Miles" — said  Grace,  dreadfully  agitated — "  talk 
not  thus — it  almost  shakes  my  purpose  !  But  no  ;  listen  now 
to  my  wishes,  for  I  feel  this  will  be  the  last  time  I  shall  ever 
dare  to  speak  on  the  subject.  In  the  first  place,  I  wish  you 
to  purchase  some  appropriate  ornament,  of  the  value  of  five 
hundred  dollars,  and  present  it  to  Lucy  as  a  memorial  of 
her  friend.  Give  also  one  thousand  dollars  in  money  to 
8* 


90  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

Mr.  Hardinge,  to  be  distributed  in  charity.  A  letter  to  him 
on  the  subject,  and  one  to  Lucy,  will  also  be  found  among 
my  papers.  There  will  still  remain  enough  to  make  suitable 
presents  to  the  slaves,  and  leave  the  sum  of  twenty  thousand 
dollars  entire  and  untouched." 

"  And  what  shall  I  do  with  these  twenty  thousand  dollars, 
sister?"  I  asked,  Grace  hesitating  to  proceed. 

**  That  sum,  dearest  Miles,  I  wish  to  go  to  Rupert.  You 
know  that  he  is  totally  without  fortune,  with  the  habits  of  a 
man  of  estate.  The  little  I  can  leave  him  will  not  make 
him  rich,  but  it  may  be  the  means  of  making  him  happy 
and  respectable.  I  trust  Lucy  will  add  to  it,  when  she 
cornes  of  age,  and  the  future  will  be  happier  for  them  all  than 
the  past." 

My  sister  spoke  quick,  and  was  compelled  to  pause  for 
breath.  As  for  myself,  the  reader  can  better  imagine  than 
I  can  describe  my  sensations,  which  were  of  a  character 
almost  to  overwhelm  me.  The  circumstance  that  I  felt  pre 
cluded  from  making  any  serious  objections,  added  to  the 
intensity  of  my  suffering,  left  me  in  a  state  of  grief,  regret, 
indignation,  wonder,  pity  and  tenderness,  that  it  is  wholly 
out  of  my  power  to  delineate.  Here,  then,  was  the  tender 
ness  of  the  woman  enduring  to  the  last ;  caring  for  the  heart- 
less  wretch  who  had  destroyed  the  very  springs  of  life  in 
her  physical  being,  while  it  crushed  the  moral  like  a  worm 
beneath  the  foot ;  yet  bequeathing,  with  her  dying  breath, 
as  it  might  be,  all  the  worldly  goods  in  her  possession,  to 
administer  to  his  selfishness  and  vanity  ! 

"  I  know  you  must  think  this  strange,  brother ;"  resumed 
Grace,  who  doubtless  saw  how  utterly  unable  I  was  to  re 
ply  ;  "  but,  I  shall  not  die  at  peace  with  myself  without  it. 
Unless  he  possess  some  marked  assurance  of  my  forgive 
ness,  my  death  will  render  Rupert  miserable ;  with  such  a 
marked  assurance,  he  will  be  confident  of  possessing  my 
pardon  and  my  prayers.  Then,  both  he  and  Emily  are 
pennyless,  I  fear,  and  their  lives  may  be  rendered  blanks 
for  the  want  of  the  little  money  it  is  in  my  power  to  bestow. 
At  the  proper  time,  Lucy,  I  feel  confident,  will  add  her  part ; 
and  you,  who  remain  behind  me,  can  all  look  on  my  grave, 
and  bless  its  humble  tenant !" 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  91 

"  Angel !"  I  murmured  —  "  this  is  too  much !  Can  you 
suppose  Rupert  will  accept  this  money  ?" 

Ill  as  I  thought  of  Rupert  Hardinge,  I  could  not  bring  my 
mind  to  believe  he  was  so  base  as  to  receive  money  coming 
from  such  a  source,  and  with  such  a  motive.  Grace,  how 
ever,  viewed  the  matter  differently ;  not  that  she  attached 
anything  discreditable  to  Rupert's  compliance,  for  her  own 
womanly  tenderness,  long  and  deeply  rooted  attachment, 
made  it  appear  to  her  eyes  more  as  an  act  of  compliance 
with  her  own  last  behest,  than  as  the  act  of  degrading  mean 
ness  it  would  unquestionably  appear  to  be,  to  all  the  rest  of 
the  world. 

"  How  can  he  refuse  this  to  me,  coming  to  him,  as  the 
request  will,  from  my  grave?"  rejoined  the  lovely  enthu 
siast.  "  He  will  owe  it  to  me ;  he  will  owe  it  to  our  former 
affection  —  for  he  once  loved  me,  Miles ;  nay,  he  loved  me 
even  more  than  you  ever  did,  or  could,  dearest — much  as  I 
know  you  love  me." 

"By  heavens,  Grace,"  I  exclaimed,  unable  to  control 
myself  any  longer,  "that  is  a  fearful  mistake.  Rupert 
Hardinge  is  incapable  of  loving  anything  but  himself;  he 
has  never  been  worthy  of  occupying  the  most  idle  moment 
of  a  heart  true  and  faithful  as  your's." 

These  words  escaped  me  under  an  impulse  I  found  en 
tirely  impossible  to  control.  Scarcely  were  they  uttered, 
ere  I  deeply  regretted  the  indiscretion.  Grace  looked  at  me 
imploringly,  turned  as  pale  as  death,  and  trembled  all  over, 
as  if  on  the  verge  of  dissolution.  I  took  her  in  my  arms,  I 
implored  her  pardon,  I  promised  to  command  myself  in 
future,  and  I  repeated  the  most  solemn  assurances  of  com 
plying  with  her  wishes  to  the  very  letter.  I  am  not  certain 
I  could  have  found  it  in  my  heart  not  to  have  recalled  my 
promise,  but  for  the  advantage  my  sister  obtained  over  me, 
by  means  of  this  act  of  weakness.  There  was  something  so 
exceedingly  revolting  to  me  in  the  whole  affair,  that  even 
Grace's  holy  weakness  failed  to  sanctify  the  act  in  my  eyes ; 
at  least  so  far  as  Rupert  was  concerned.  I  owe  it  to  myself 
to  add  that  not  a  selfish  thought  mingled  with  my  imuc- 
tance,  which  proceeded  purely  from  the  distaste  I  felt  to 
seeing  Lucy's  brother,  and  a  man  for  whom  I  had  once 
entertained  a  boyish  regard,  making  himself  so  thoroughly 


92  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

an  object  of  contempt.  As  I  entertained  serious  doubts  of 
even  Rupert's  sinking  so  low,  I  felt  the  necessity  of  speak 
ing  to  my  sister  on  the  subject  of  such  a  contingency. 

"  One  might  hesitate  about  accepting  your  money,  after 
all,  dearest  sister,"  I  said ;  "  and  it  is  proper  you  give  mo 
directions  what  I  am  to  do,  in  the  event  of  Rupert's  declining 
the  gift." 

"  I  think  that  is  little  probable,  Miles,"  answered  Grace, 
who  lived  and  died  under  a  species  of  hallucination  on  the 
subject  of  her  early  lover's  real  character  —  "  Rupert  may 
not  have  been  able  to  command  his  affections,  but  he  cannot 
cease  to  feel  a  sincere  friendship  for  me ;  to  remember  our 
ancient  confidence  and  intimacy.  He  will  receive  the  be 
quest,  as  you  would  take  one  from  dear  Lucy,"  added  my 
sister,  a  painful-looking  smile  illuminating  that  angelic  ex 
pression  of  countenance  to  which  I  have  so  often  alluded  ; 
'*  or,  as  that  of  a  sister.  You  would  not  refuse  such  a  thing 
to  Lucy's  dying  request,  and  why  should  Rupert  to  mine  ?" 

Poor  Grace !  Little  did  she  see  the  immense  difference 
there  was  in  my  relation  to  Lucy  and  that  which  Rupert 
bore  to  her.  I  could  not  explain  this  difference,  however, 
but  merely  assented  to  her  wishes,  renewing,  for  the  fourth 
or  fifth  time,  my  pledges  of  performing  with  fidelity  all  she 
asked  at  my  hands.  Grace  then  put  into  my  hands  an  un 
sealed  letter  addressed  to  Rupert,  which  she  desired  me  to 
read  when  alone,  and  which  I  was  to  have  delivered  with 
the  legacy  or  donation  of  money. 

"  Let  me  rest  once  more  on  your  bosom,  Miles,"  said 
Grace,  reclining  her  head  in  my  arms,  quite  exhausted 
under  the  reaction  of  the  excitement  she  had  felt  while 
urging  her  request.  "  I  feel  happier,  at  this  moment,  than 
I  have  been  for  a  long  time ;  yet,  my  increasing  weakness 
admonishes  me  it  cannot  last  long.  Miles,  darling,  you 
must  remember  all  our  sainted  mother  taught  you  in  child 
hood,  and  you  will  not  mourn  over  my  loss.  Could  I  leave 
you  united  to  one  who  understood  and  appreciated  youi 
worth,  I  should  die  contented.  But  you  will  be  left  alone, 
poo%  Miles  ;  for  a  time,  at  least,  you  will  mourn  for  me." 

"Forever  —  long  as  life  lasts,  beloved  Grace,"  I  mur 
mured,  almost  in  her  ear. 

Exhaustion  kept  my  sister  quiet  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 


MILES     WALLINQFORD.  93 

though  I  felt  an  occasional  pressure  of  her  hands,  both  of 
which  held  one  of  mine ;  and  I  could  hear  words  asking 
blessings  and  consolation  for  me,  whispered,  from  time  to 
time,  in  heartfelt  petitions  to  heaven.  As  she  gained  strength 
by  repose,  my  sister  felt  the  desire  to  continue  the  discourse 
revive.  I  begged  her  not  to  incur  the  risk  of  further  fatigue 
but  she  answered,  smiling  affectionately  in  my  face — 

"  Rest !  —  There  will  be  no  permanent  rest  for  me,  until 
laid  by  the  side  of  my  parents.  Miles,  do  your  thoughts 
ever  recur  to  that  picture  of  the  future  that  is  so  precious  to 
the  believer,  and  which  leads  us  to  hope,  if  not  absolutely 
to  confide  in  it  as  as  a  matter  of  faith,  that  we  may  recog 
nise  each  other  in  the  next  state  of  being,  and  that  in  a 
communion  still  sweeter  than  any  of  this  life,  since  it  will 
be  a  communion  free  from  all  sin,  and  governed  by  holi 
ness  ?" 

"  We  sailors  give  little  heed  to  these  matters,  Grace ;  but 
I  feel  that,  in  future,  the  idea  you  have  just  mentioned  will 
be  full  of  consolation  to  me." 

"  Remember,  my  best-beloved  brother,  it  is  only  the 
blessed  that  can  enjoy  such  a  recognition  — to  the  accursed 
it  must  add  an  additional  weight  to  the  burthen  of  their  woe." 

"  Felix  trembled  !"  The  thought  that  even  this  chance  of 
again  meeting  my  sister,  and  of  communing  with  her  in  the 
form  in  which  I  had  ever  seen  and  loved  her  might  be  lost, 
came  in  aid  of  other  good  resolutions  that  the  state  of  the 
family  had  quickened  in  my  heart.  I  thought,  however,  it 
mi^ht  be  well  not  to  let  Grace  lead  the  conversation  to  such 
subjects,  after  all  that  had  just  passed,  repose  becoming 
necessary  to  her  again.  I  therefore  proposed  calling  Lucy, 
in  order  that  she  might  be  carried  to  her  own  room.  I  say 
carried ;  for,  by  a  remark  that  fell  from  Chloe,  I  had  ascer 
tained  that  this  was  the  mode  in  which  she  had  been  brought 
to  the  place  of  meeting.  Grace  acquiesced ;  but  while  we 
waited  for  Chloe  to  answer  the  bell,  she  continued  to  con 
verse. 

"  I  have  not  exacted  of  you,  Miles,"  my  sister  continued, 
"  any  promise  to  keep  my  bequest  a  secret  from  the  world  ; 
your  own  sense  of  delicacy  would  do  that ;  but,  I  will  make 
it  a  condition  that  you  do  not  speak  of  it  to  either  Mr.  Har- 
dinge  or  Lucy.  They  may  possibly  raise  weak  objections, 


94  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

particularly  the  last,  who  has,  and  ever  has  had,  some  ex 
aggerated  opinions  about  receiving  money.  Even  in  hel 
days  of  poverty,  and  poor  as  she  was,  you  know,  notwith* 
standing  our  true  Jove  for  each  other,  and  close  intimacy,  I 
never  could  induce  Lucy  to  receive  a  cent.  Nay,  so  scru 
pulous  has  she  been,  that  the  little  presents  which  friends 
constantly  give  and  receive,  she  would  decline,  because  she 
had  not  the  means  of  offering  them  in  return." 

I  remembered  the  gold  the  dear  girl  had  forced  on  me, 
when  I  first  went  to  sea,  and  could  have  kneeled  at  her  feet 
and  called  her  "  blessed." 

"  And  this  did  not  make  you  love  and  respect  Lucy  the 
less,  my  sister  ?  But  do  not  answer ;  so  much  conversing 
must  distress  you." 

"  Not  at  all,  Miles.  I  speak  without  suffering,  nor  does 
the  little  talking  I  do  enfeeble  me  in  the  least.  When  I 
appear  exhausted,  it  is  from  the  feelings  which  accompany 
our  discourse.  I  talk  much,  very  much,  with  dear  Lucy, 
who  hears  me  with  more  patience  than  yourself,  brother!" 

I  knew  that  this  remark  applied  to  Grace's  wish  to  dwell 
on  the  unknown  future,  and  did  not  receive  it  as  a  reproach 
in  any  other  sense.  As  she  seemed  calm,  however,  I  was 
willing  to  indulge  her  wish  to  converse  with  me,  so  long  as 
she  dwelt  on  subjects  that  did  not  agitate  her.  Speaking  of 
her  hopes  of  heaven  had  a  contrary  effect,  and  I  made  no 
further  opposition. 

"  Lucy's  hesitation  to  be  under  the  obligations  you  men 
tion  did  not  lessen  her  in  your  esteem  ?"  I  repeated. 

"  You  know  it  could  not,  Miles.  Lucy  is  a  dear,  good 
girl ;  and  the  more  intimately  one  knows  her,  the  more  cer 
tain  is  one  to  esteem  her.  I  have  every  reason  to  bless  and 
pray  for  Lucy ;  still,  I  desire  you  not  to  make  either  her  or 
her  father  acquainted  with  my  bequest." 

"  Rupert  would  hardly  conceal  such  a  thing  from  so  near 
and  dear  friends." 

"  Let  Rupert  judge  of  the  propriety  of  that  for  himself. 
Kiss  me,  brother ;  do  not  ask  to  see  me  again  to-day,  for  I 
have  much  to  arrange  with  Lucy ;  to-morrow  I  shall  expect 
a  long  visit.  God  bless  you,  my  own,  dear, — my  only  bro 
ther,  and  ever  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping !" 

I  left  the  room  as  Chloe  entered ;  and,  in  threading  the 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  95 

long  passage  that  led  to  the  apartment  which  was  appro 
priated  to  my  own  particular  purposes,  as  an  office,  cabinet, 
or  study,  I  met  Lucy  near  the  door  of  the  latter.  I  could 
see  she  had  been  weeping,  and  she  followed  me  into  the 
room. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  her,  Miles  ?"  the  dear  girl  as^ed, 
uttering  the  words  in  a  tone  so  low  and  plaintive  as  to  say 
all  that  she  anticipated  herself. 

"  We  shall  lose  her,  Lucy  ;  yes,  'tis  God's  pleasure  to 
call  her  to  himself." 

Had  worlds  depended  on  the  effort,  I  could  not  have  got 
out  another  syllable.  The  feelings  which  had  been  so  long 
pent  up  in  Grace's  presence  broke  out,  and  I  am  not  ashamed 
to  say  that  I  wept  and  sobbed  like  an  infant. 

How  kind,  how  woman-like,  how  affectionate  did  Lucy 
show  herself  at  that  bitter  moment.  She  said  but  little, 
though  I  think  I  overheard  her  murmuring  "  poor  Miles !" 
— "  poor,  dear  Miles !"  — "  what  a  blow  it  must  be  to  a 
brother !"  —  "  God  will  temper  this  loss  to  him !"  and  other 
similar  expressions.  She  took  one  of  my  hands  and  pressed 
it  warmly  between  both  her  own ;  held  it  there  for  two  or 
three  minutes  ;  hovered  round  me,  as  the  mother  keeps  near 
its  slumbering  infant  when  illness  renders  rest  necessary ; 
and  seemed  more  like  a  spirit  sympathizing  with  my  grief 
than  a  mere  observer  of  its  violence.  In  reflecting  on  what 
then  passed  months  afterwards,  it  appeared  to  me  that  Lucy 
had  entirely  forgotten  herself,  her  own  causes  of  sorrow, 
her  own  feelings  as  respected  Grace,  in  the  single  wish  to 
solace  me.  But  this  was  ever  her  character  ,*  this  was  her 
very  nature ;  to  live  out  of  herself,  as  it  might  be,  and  in 
the  existences  of  those  whom  she  esteemed  or  loved.  During 
this  scene,  Lucy  lost  most  of  the  restraints  which  woman 
hood  and  more  matured  habits  had  placed  on  her  deport 
ment  ;  and  she  behaved  towards  me  with  the  innocent  fami 
liarity  that  marked  our  intercourse  down  to  the  time  I  sailed 
in  the  Crisis.  It  is  true,  I  was  too  dreadfully  agitated  at 
first  to  take  heed  of  all  that  passed ;  but,  I  well  remember, 
that,  before  leaving  me  in  obedience  to  a  summons  from 
Grace,  she  laid  her  head  affectionately  on  mine,  and  kissed 
the  curls  with  which  nature  had  so  profusely  covered  the 
last.  I  thought,  at  the  time,  notwithstanding,  that  the  salute 


96  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

would  have  been  on  the  forehead,  or  cheek,  three  years  be 
fore,  or  previously  to  her  acquaintance  with  Drewett. 

I  was  a  long  time  in  regaining  entire  self-command ;  but, 
when  I  did,  I  opened  my  sister's  letter  to  Rupert,  agreeably 
*o  her  request,  and  perused  it  thrice  without  a  pause,  even 
to  reflect.  It  was  conceived  in  these  words : — 

"  MY  DEAREST  RUPERT — 

"  God,  in  his  infinite  and  inscrutable  wisdom,  when  you 
read  this  letter,  will  have  seen  fit  to  call  me  to  himself.  Let 
not  this  seeming  loss,  in  any  manner,  afflict  you,  my  friend; 
for  I  feel  the  humble  assurance  that  I  shall  reap  the  full 
benefit  of  the  Saviour's  great  sacrifice.  I  could  not  havs 
been  happy  in  this  life,  Rupert ;  and  it  is  a  mercy  that  I  am 
taken,  thus  early,  to  a  better.  It  grieves  me  to  part  from 
your  excellent  father,  from  yourself,  from  our  precious  and 
rightfully  beloved  Lucy,  and  from  dear,  dear  Miles.  This 
is  the  last  tribute  I  pay  to  nature,  and  I  hope  it  will  be  par 
doned  for  its  character.  There  is  a  strong  hope  within  me, 
that  my  death  will  be  sanctified  to  the  benefit  of  my  friends. 
With  this  view,  and  this  view  only,  beloved  Rupert,  I  wish 
you  to  remember  it.  In  all  other  respects  let  it  be  forgotten. 
You  have  found  it  impossible  to  command  your  affections, 
and  worlds  would  not  have  tempted  me  to  become  your 
wife  without  possessing  all  your  heart.  I  pray  daily,  almost 
hourly"  —  tears  had  evidently  blotted  this  portion  of  the 
letter — "  for  you  and  Emily.  Live  together,  and  make  each 
other  happy.  She  is  a  sweet  girl;  has  enjoyed  advantages 
that  Clawbonny  could  not  bestow,  and  which  will  contribute 
to  your  gratification.  In  order  that  you  may  sometimes 
think  of  me" — poor  Grace  was  not  aware  of  this  contradic 
tion  in  her  requests  —  "Miles  will  send  you  a  legacy  that  I 
leave  you.  Acceptnt  as  a  little  fortune  with  Emily.  I  wish 
sincerely,  it  were  much  larger;  but  you  will  not  overlooK 
the  intention,  and  forget  the  insufficiency  of  the  sum.  Smal. 
as  it  is,  I  trust  it  will  enable  you  to  marry  at  once,  and 
Lucy's  heart  may  be  confided  in  for  the  rest. 

"Farewell,  Rupert — I  do  not  say,  farewell  Emily;  for  1 
thipk  this  letter,  as  well  as  its  object,  had  better  remain  a 
secret  between  you  and  me,  and  my  brother— but  I  wish 
your  future  wife  all  earthly  happiness,  and  an  end  as  full 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  97 

of  hope  ts  that  which  attends  the  death-bed  of  your  affec 
tionate 

"  GRACE  WALLINGFORD." 

Oh!  woman,  woman,  what  are  ye  not,  when  duly  pro 
tected  and  left  to  the  almost  divine  impulses  of  your  gene 
rous  natures !  What  may  ye  not  become,  when  rendered 
mercenary  and  envious  by  too  close  a  contact  with  those 
worldly  interests  which  are  never  admitted  to  an  ascendency 
without  destroying  all  your  moral  beauty ! 


CHAPTER  VII. 

tt  And  the  beautiful,  whose  record 
Is  the  verse  that  cannot  die, 
They  too  are  gone,  with  their  glorious  bloom, 
From  the  love  of  human  eye." 

MRS.  HEMANS. 

I  CANNOT  dwell  minutely  on  the  events  of  the  week  that 
succeeded.  Grace  sunk  daily,  hourly ;  and  the  medical 
advice  that  was  obtained,  more  as  a  duty  than  with  any 
hope  of  its  benefiting  the  patient,  failed  of  assisting  her. 
Mr.  Hardinge  saw  the  invalid  often,  and  I  was  admitted  to 
her  room  each  day,  where  she  would  lie,  reclining  on  my 
bosom  for  hours  at  a  time,  seemingly  fond  of  this  innocent 
indulgence  of  her  affections,  on  the  eve  of  her  final  depar 
ture.  As  it  was  out  of  the  question  that  my  sister  should 
again  visit  the  family  room,  the  causeuse  was  brought  into 
her  chamber,  where  it  was  made  to  perform  the  office  to 
which  it  had  been  several  times  devoted  in  its  proper  apart 
ment  since  my  return  from  sea.  That  venerable  chair  still 
exists,  and  I  often  pass  thoughtful  hours  in  it  in  my  old  age, 
musing  on  the  past,  and  recalling  the  different  scenes  and 
conversations  of  which  it  could  tell,  did  it  possess  conscious- 
ness  and  the  faculty  of  speech. 

Mr.  Hardinge  officiated  in  his  own  church,  agreeably  lo 
his  intention,  on  the  succeeding  Sunday.     Lucy  remained 
9 


98  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

with  her  friend ;  and  I  make  no  doubt  their  spirits  devoutly 
communed  with  ours  the  while;  for  I  mastered  sufficient 
fortitude  to  be  present  at  St.  Michael's.  I  could  observe  an 
earnest  sympathy  in  every  member  of  the  little  congrega 
tion  ;  and  tears  fell  from  nearly  every  eye  when  the  prayer 
for  the  sick  was  read.  Mr.  Hardinge  remained  at  the 
rectory  for  the  further  duties  of  the  day ;  but  I  rode  home 
.immediately  after  morning  service,  too  uneasy  to  remain 
absent  from  the  house  longer  than  was  necessary,  at  such  a 
moment.  As  my  horse  trotted  slowly  homeward,  he  over 
took  Neb,  who  was  walking  towards  Clawbonny,  with  an 
air  so  different  from  his  customary  manner,  I  could  not  help 
remarking  it.  Neb  was  a  muscular,  active  black,  and  usually 
walked  as  if  his  legs  were  all  springs ;  but  he  moved 
along  now  so  heavily,  that  I  could  not  but  see  some  weight 
upon  the  spirits  had  produced  this  influence  on  the  body. 
The  change  was,  naturally  enough,  attributed  to  the  state 
of  affairs  with  Chloe ;  and  I  felt  disposed  to  say  a  word  to 
my  faithful  slave,  who  had  been  unavoidably  overlooked  in 
the  pressure  of  sorrow  that  had  weighed  me  down  for  the 
last  ten  days.  I  spoke  to  the  poor  fellow  as  cheerfully  as  I 
could,  as  I  came  up,  and  endeavoured  to  touch  on  such 
subjects  as  I  thought  might  interest  without  troubling  him. 

"  This  is  a  famous  windfall  that  has  crossed  Mr.  Marble's 
track,  Neb,"  I  said,  pulling  up,  in  order  to  go  a  short  dis 
tance  at  an  even  pace  with  my  brolher-tar.  "  As  nice  an 
old  woman  for  a  mother,  as  pretty  a  little  girl  for  a  niece, 
and  as  snug  a  haven  to  moor  in,  at  the  end  of  the  voyage, 
as  any  old  worn-out  sea-dog  could  or  ought  to  wish." 

"  Yes,  sir,  Masser  Mile,"  Neb  answered,  as  I  fancied,  in 
the  manner  of  one  who  was  thinking  of  something  different 
from  what  he  said ;  "  yes,  sir,  Mr.  Marble  a  reg'lar  sea- 
dog." 

"  And  as  such  not  the  less  entitled  to  have  a  good  old 
mother,  a  pretty  niece,  and  a  snug  home." 

"  No,  sir ;  none  de  wuss  for  bin'  sea-dog,  all  must  allow. 
Nebberdeless,  Masser  Mile,  I  sometime  wish  you  and  I 
nebber  hab  see  saH  water." 

"  That  is  almost  as  much  as  wishing  we  never  looked 
down  the  Hudson  from  the  hills  and  banks  of  Clawbonny 
boy  ;  the  river  itself  being  salt  not  far  below  us.  You  are 


MILES     W Al LINGFORD.  99 

thinking  of  Chloe,  and  fancying,  that  had  you  stayed  at  home, 
your  chance  of  getting  into  her  good  graces  would  have 
been  better." 

"  No,  Masser  Mile  ,•  no,  sir.  Nobody  at  Clawbonny  t'ink, 
just  now,  of  anyt'ing  but  deatV 

I  started  in  surprise.  Mr.  Hardinge  kept  everything  like 
exaggeration  and  those  physical  excitements  which  it  is  so 
much  the  habit  of  certain  sects  to  mistake  for  religious  im 
pulses,  even  from  the  negroes  of  the  Clawbonny  property. 
Neb's  speech  sounded  more  like  an  innovation  of  this  nature 
than  I  had  ever  heard  among  my  people ;  and  I  looked  hard 
at  the  fellow  for  an  instant,  before  I  answered. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  understand  you,  Neb,"  was  my  reply, 
after  a  meaning  pause.  "  It  is  a  relief  to  me  to  find  that 
my  people  retain  all  their  affections  for  the  children  of  their 
old  master  and  mistress." 

"  We  hard-hearted  indeed,  sir,  if  we  don't.  Ah  !  Masser 
Mile,  you  and  I  see  many  dreadful  t'ing  togeder,  but  we 
nebber  see  any  t'ing  like  dis !" 

Neb's  dark  cheek  was  glistening  with  tears  as  he  spoke, 
and  I  spurred  my  horse,  lest  my  own  manhood  might  give 
way,  there  in  the  road,  and  in  the  presence  of  those  who 
were  fast  approaching.  Why  Neb  had  expressed  sorrow 
for  having  ever  gone  to  sea,  I  could  not  account  for  in  any 
other  manner  than  by  supposing  that  he  imagined  Grace 
was,  in  some  manner,  a  sufferer  by  my  absence  from  home. 

When  I  reached  the  house,  not  a  soul  was  visible.  The 
men  had  all  gone  to  church,  and  were  to  be  seen  in  the  dis 
tance,  coming  along  the  road,  singly  and  in  a  melancholy 
manner,  not  a  sign  of  the  customary,  thoughtless  merriment 
of  a  negro  escaping  a  single  individual  among  them  ;  but  it 
was  usual  for  some  of  the  black  Venuses  to  be  seen  sunning 
themselves  at  that  season,  exhibiting  their  summer  finery  to 
each  other  and  their  admirers.  Not  one  was  now  visible. 
All  the  front  of  the  house,  the  lawn,  the  kitchens,  of  which 
there  were  no  less  than  three,  and  the  kitchen  yards ;  in 
short,  every  familiar  haunt  of  the  dwelling  was  deserted  and 
empty.  This  boded  evil ;  and,  throwing  the  bridle  over  a 
post,  I  walked  hurriedly  towards  the  part  of  the  building, 
or  buildings,  would  be  a  better  word,  inhabited  by  Grace. 

As  I  entered  the  passage  which  communicated  with  my 


100  MILES     WALLINGPORD. 

sister's  own  room,  the  departure  from  ordinary  appearances 
was  explained.  Six  or  seven  of  the  negresses  were  kneeling 
near  the  door,  and  I  could  hear  the  low,  solemn,  earnest 
voice  of  Lucy,  reading  some  of  the  collects  and  other  prayers 
suited  to  the  sick-chamber  and  to  the  wants  of  a  parting  soul. 
Lucy's  voice  was  music  itself,  but  never  before  had  it  sound 
ed  so  plaintively  sweet.  The  lowest  intonation  was  distinctly 
audible,  as  if  the  dear,  devout  creature  felt  that  the  Being 
she  addressed  was  not  to  be  approached  in  any  other  man 
ner,  while  the  trembling  earnestness  of  the  tones  betrayed 
the  depth  of  feeling  with  which  each  syllable  escaped  from 
the  heart.  Talk  of  liturgies  impairing  the  fervour  of  prayer ! 
This  may  be  the  fact  with  those  who  are  immersed  in  them 
selves  while  communing  with  God,  and  cannot  consent  even 
to  pray  without  placing  their  own  thoughts  and  language, 
however  ill-digested  and  crude,  uppermost  in  the  business 
of  the  moment.  Do  not  such  persons  know  that,  as  respects 
united  worship,  their  own  prayers  are,  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  a  formulary  to  their  listeners,  with  the  disadvan 
tage  of  being  received  without  preparation  or  direction  to 
the  mind  ?  —  nay,  too  often  substituting  a  critical  and  pru 
rient  curiosity  for  humble  and  intelligent  prayer?  In  these 
later  times,  when  Christianity  is  re-assuming  the  character 
of  the  quarrels  of  sects,  and,  as  an  old  man  who  has  lived, 
and  hopes  to  die,  in  communion  with  the  Anglo-American 
church,  I  do  not  wish  to  exculpate  my  own  particular  branch 
of  the  Catholic  body  from  blame;  but,  in  these  later  times, 
when  Christianity  is  returning  to  its  truculency,  forgetful 
of  the  chiefest  of  virtues,  Charity,  I  have  often  recalled  the 
scene  of  that  solemn  noon-tide,  and  asked  myself  the  ques 
tion,  "  if  any  man  could  have  heard  Lucy,  as  I  did,  on  that 
occasion,  concluding  with  the  petition  which  Christ  himself 
gave  to  his  disciples  as  a  comprehensive  rule,  if  not  abso 
lutely  as  a  formulary,  and  imagine  the  heart  could  not  fully 
accompany  words  that  had  been  previously  prescribed  ?" 

No  sooner  had  Lucy's  solemn  tones  ceased  than  I  passed 
through  the  crowd  of  weeping  and  still  kneeling  blacks,  and 
entered  my  sister's  room.  Grace  was  reclining  in  an  easy 
chair;  her  eyes  closed,  her  hands  clasped  together,  but 
lying  on  her  knees,  and  her  whole  attitude  and  air  proclaim 
ing  a  momentary  but  total  abstraction  of  the  spirit.  I  do 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  101 

not  think  she  heard  my  footstep  ac  all,  and  I  stood  at  her 
side  an  instant,  uncertain  whether  to  let  her  know  of  my 
presence,  or  not.  At  this  instant  I  caught  the  eye  of  Lucy, 
who  seemed  intent  on  the  wish  to  speak  to  me.  Grace  had 
three  or  four  small  rooms  that  communicated  with  each 
other,  in  her  part  of  the  dwelling ;  and  into  one  of  these, 
which  served  as  a  sort  of  boudoir,  though  the  name  was 
then  unknown  in  America,  I  followed  the  dear  girl,  whose 
speaking  but  sad  look  had  bidden  me  do  so. 

"  Is  my  father  near  at  hand  ?"  Lucy  asked,  with  an  in 
terest  I  did  not  understand,  since  she  must  have  known  he 
intended  to  remain  at  his  own  residence,  in  readiness  for 
the  afternoon  service. 

"  He  is  not.  You  forget  he  has  to  attend  to  evening 
prayers." 

"  I  have  sent  for  him  —  Miles,"  taking  one  of  my  hands 
in  both  her  own,  with  the  tenderness  a  mother  would  mani 
fest  to  a  very  dear  child,  "  dear  Miles,  you  must  summon 
all  your  fortitude." 

"Is  my  sister  worse?"  I  demanded,  huskily;  for,  pre 
pared  as  I  was  for  the  result,  I  was  not  expecting  it  by  any 
means  so  soon. 

"  I  cannot  call  it  worse,  Miles,  to  be  about  to  be  called 
away  to  God  in  such  a  frame  of  mind.  But  it  is  proper  I 
should  tell  you  all.  Rather  less  than  an  hour  since,  Grace 
told  me  that  the  hour  was  at  hand.  She  has  the  knowledge 
of  her  approaching  end,  though  she  would  not  let  me  send 
for  you.  She  said  you  would  have  ample  time  to  witness  it 
all.  For  my  father,  however,  I  have  sent,  and  he  must  soon 
be  here." 

"  Almighty  Providence  !  Lucy,  do  you  really  think  wo 
shall  lose  Grace  so  soon?" 

"  As  it  is  the  will  of  God  to  take  her  from  us,  Miles,  I 
can  scarce  repine  that  her  end  should  be  so  easy,  and,  in 
all  respects,  so  tranquil." 

So  long  as  memory  is  granted  to  me,  will  the  picture  thai 
Lucy  presented  at  that  moment  remain  vividly  impressed  on 
my  mind.  She  loved  Grace  as  a  most  dear  sister;  loved 
her  as  an  affectionate,  generous-minded,  devoted  woman 
alone  can  love ;  and  yet,  so  keenly  was  she  alive  to  the  na 
ture  of  the  communication  it  was  her  duty  to  make,  that 
9* 


102  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

concern  for  me  alone  reigned  in  her  saddened  and  anxious 
eye.  Her  mind  had  schooled  itself  to  bear  its  own  grief; 
and  meek,  believing,  and  disposed  to  foresee  all  that  her 
profound  faith  taught  her  to  hope,  I  do  believe  she  consider 
ed  my  sister  a  subject  of  envy  rather  than  of  regret,  though 
her  solicitude  on  my  account  was  so  absorbing.  This  gene 
rous  self-denial  touched  my  feelings  in  more  ways  than  one, 
enabling  me  to  command  myself  to  a  degree  that  might 
otherwise  have  been  out  of  my  power,  during  the  few  suc 
ceeding  hours.  I  felt  ashamed  to  manifest  all  I  endured  in 
the  presence  of  so  much  meek  but  pious  fortitude,  and  that 
exhibited  by  one  whose  heart  I  so  well  knew  to  be  the  very 
seat  of  the  best  human  affections.  The  sad  smile  that  mo 
mentarily  illuminated  Lucy's  countenance,  as  she  gazed 
anxiously  in  my  face  when  speaking,  was  full  of  submissive 
hope  and  Christian  faith. 

"  God's  will  be  done,"  I  rather  whispered  than  uttered 
aloud.  "  Heaven  is  a  place  more  suited  to  such  a  spirit  than 
the  abodes  of  men." 

Lucy  pressed  my  hand,  and  appeared  relieved  from  a 
load  of  intense  anxiety  by  this  seeming  fortitude.  She  bade 
me  remain  where  I  was,  until  she  had  herself  apprized 
Grace  of  my  return  from  church.  I  could  see  through  the 
open  door  thai  the  negresses  had  been  directed  to  retire,  and 
presently  I  heard  the  footstep  of  Mr.  Hardinge  approaching 
the  room  adjoining  that  in  which  I  then  was,  and  which 
answered  the  purpose  of  a  sort  of  ante-chamber  for  those 
who  came  to  the  sick-room  from  the  more  public  side  of  the 
house.  I  met  my  excellent  old  guardian  in  that  apartment, 
and  Lucy  was  at  my  side  at  the  next  instant.  One  word 
from  the  last  sufficed  to  keep  us  in  this  room  while  she  re 
turned  to  that  of  Grace. 

*'  God  have  mercy  on  us,  my  dear  boy  *  —  the  divine 
ejaculated,  as  much  in  prayer  as  in  grief —  "  and  I  say  on 
t/5,  as  well  as  on  you,  for  Grace  has  ever  been  dear  to  me 
as  a  child  of  my  own.  I  knew  the  blow  must  come,  and 
have  prayed  the  Lord  to  prepare  us  all  for  it,  and  to  sanc 
tify  it  to  us,  old  and  young ;  but,  notwithstanding,  death  has 
come  '  literally'  when  no  man  knoweth.  I  must  have  mate 
rials  for  writing,  Miles,  and  you  will  choose  an  express 
for  me  out  of  your  people ;  let  the  man  be  ready  to  mount 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  103 

in  half  an  hour;  for  I  shall  not  require  half  that  time  to 
prepare  my  letter." 

"  Medical  advice  is  useless,  I  am  afraid,  dear  sir,"  I  an* 
swered.  "  We  have  Post's  directions,  and  very  respectable 
attendance  from  our  own  family  physician,  Dr.Wurtz,  who 
gave  me  to  understand  several  days  since  that  he  saw  no 
other  means  of  averting  the  evil  we  dread  than  those  already 
adopted.  Still,  sir,  I  shall  be  easier,  if  we  can  persuade  Dr. 
Bard  to  cross  the  river,  and  have  already  thought  of  send 
ing  Neb  once  more  on  that  errand." 

"  Do  so,"  returned  Mr.  Hardinge,  drawing  towards  him  a 
little  table  on  which  Dr.  Wurtz  had  written  a  few  prescrip 
tions  that  were  used  more  for  form,  I  believe,  than  any  ex 
pectation  of  the  good  they  could  do  ;  and  beginning  to  write, 
even  while  talking — "  Do  so" — he  added  —  "  and  Neb  can 
put  this  letter  in  the  post-office  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
river,  which  will  be  the  quickest  mode  of  causing  it  to  reach 
Rupert " 

"  Rupert !"  I  exclaimed,  on  a  key  that  I  instantly  re 
gretted. 

"  Certainly ;  we  can  do  no  less  than  send  for  Rupert, 
Miles.  He  has  ever  been  like  a  brother  to  Grace,  and  the 
poor  fellow  would  feel  the  neglect  keenly,  did  we  overlook 
him  on  an  occasion  like  this.  You  seem  astonished  at  my 
thinking  of  summoning  him  to  Clawbonny." 

*'  Rupert  is  at  the  springs,  sir  —  happy  in  the  society  of 
Miss  Merton  —  would  it  not  be  better  to  leave  him  where 
he  is  ?" 

"  What  would  you  think,  Miles,  were  Lucy  on  her  death 
bed,  and  we  should  fail  to  let  you  know  it  ?" 

I  gazed  so  wildly  at  the  good  old  man,  I  believe,  that 
even  his  simplicity  could  not  avoid  seeing  the  immense 
difference  between  the  real  and  the  supposititious  case. 

"Very  true,  poor  Miles ;  very  true,"  Mr.  Hardinge  added, 
in  an  apologetic  manner ;  "  I  see  the  weakness  of  my  com 
parison,  though  I  was  beginning  to  -hope  you  were  already 
regarding  Lucy,  once  more,  with  the  eyes  of  a  brother. 
But  Rupert  must  not  be  forgotten  neither ;  and  here  is  my 
letter  already  written." 

"  It  will  be  too  late,  sir,"  I  got  out,  hoarsely — •'  my  sister 
cannot  survive  the  day." 


104  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

I  perceived  that  Mr.  Hardinge  was  not  prepared  for  this , 
his  cheek  grew  pale,  and  his  hand  trembled  as  he  sealed  the 
epistle.  Still  he  sent  it,  as  I  afterwards  discovered. 

"  God's  will  be  done !"  the  excellent  divine  murmured. 
"  If  such  should  really  be  his  holy  will,  we  ought  not  to 
mourn  that  another  humble  Christian  spirit  is  called  away 
to  the  presence  of  its  great  Creator !  Rupert  can,  at  least, 
attend,  to  do  honour  to  all  that  we  can  honour  of  the  saint 
we  lose." 

There  was  no  resisting  or  contending  with  so  much  sim 
plicity  and  goodness  of  heart ;  and,  had  it  been  in  my  power, 
a  summons  to  the  room  of  Grace  called  all  my  thoughts  to 
her.  My  sister's  eyes  were  now  open.  I  shuddered,  felt  a 
sinking  of  the  heart  like  that  produced  by  despair,  as  I 
caught  their  unearthly  or  rather  their  supernatural  expres 
sion.  It  was  not  that  anything  which  indicated  death  in  its 
more  shocking  aspects  met  my  look,  but  simply  that  I  could 
trace  the  illumination  of  a  spirit  that  already  felt  itself  on 
the  eve  of  a  new  state  of  being,  and  one  that  must  at  least 
separate  all  that  remained  behind  from  any  further  commu 
nication  with  itself.  I  am  not  certain  that  I  felt  no  pang  at 
the  thought  my  sister  could  be  entirely  happy  without  any 
participation  on  my  part  in  her  bliss.  We  are  all  so  selfish 
that  it  is  hard  to  say  how  far  even  our  most  innocent  long 
ings  are  free  from  the  taint  of  this  feature  of  our  nature. 

But  Grace,  herself,  could  not  entirely  shake  off  the  ties 
of  kindred  and  human  love  so  long  as  her  spirit  continued 
in  its  earthly  tenement.  So  far  from  this,  every  glance  she 
cast  on  one  or  all  of  os  denoted  the  fathomless  tenderness 
of  her  nature,  and  was  filled  with  its  undying  affection.  She 
was  weak,  frightfully  so  I  fancied ;  for  death  appeared  to 
hasten  in  order  to  release  her  as  swiftly  and  easily  as  possi 
ble  ;  yet  did  her  interest  in  me  and  in  Lucy  sustain  her 
sufficiently  to  enable  her  to  impart  much  that  she  wished  to 
say.  In  obedience  to  a  sign  from  her,  I  knelt  at  her  side, 
and  received  her  head  on  my  bosom,  as  near  as  possible  in 
that  attitude  in  which  we  had  already  passed  hours  since 
her  illness.  Mr.  Hardinge  hovered  over  us,  like  a  minister 
ing  spirit,  uttering  in  a  suppressed  and  yet  distinct  voice, 
some  of  the  sublimest  of  those  passages  from  scripture  that 
are  the  most  replete  with  consolation  to  the  parting  spirit 


MILES     WALLIffGFORD.  105 

As  for  Lucy,  to  me  she  seemed  to  be  precisely  in  that  spot 
where  she  was  most  wanted ;  and  often  did  Grace's  eyes 
turn  towards  her  with  gleamings  of  gratitude  and  love. 

"  The  hour  is  near,  brother,"  Grace  whispered,  as  she 
lay  on  my  bosom.  "  Remember,  I  die  asking  forgiveness 
as  much  for  those  who  may  have  done  me  wrong,  as  for 
myself.  Forget  nothing  that  you  have  promised  me;  do 
nothing  to  cause  Lucy  and  her  father  sorrow." 

"  I  understand  you,  sister"  —  was  my  low  answer.  "De 
pend  on  all  I  have  said — all  you  can  wish" 

A  gentle  pressure  of  the  hand  was  the  ttken  of  content 
ment  with  which  this  assurance  was  received. 

From  that  moment  it  seemed  to  me  that  Grace  was  less 
than  usual  attached  to  the  things  of  the  world.  Neverthe 
less,  her  interest  in  those  she  loved,  and  who  loved  her, 
continued  to  the  last. 

"  Let  all  the  slaves  that  wish  to  see  me,  enter,"  Grace 
said,  rousing  herself  to  perform  a  trying  but  necessary  duty. 
"  I  never  can  repay  them  for  all  they  have  done  for  me  ; 
but  I  trust  them  to  you,  Miles,  with  confidence." 

Lucy  glided  from  the  room,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the 
long  train  of  dark  faces  was  seen  approaching  the  door. 
The  grief  of  these  untutored  beings,  like  their  mirth,  is 
usually  loud  and  vociferous ;  but  Lucy,  dear,  considerate, 
energetic  Lucy  —  energetic  even  in  the  midst  of  a  sorrow 
that  nearly  crushed  her  to  the  earth  —  had  foreseen  all  this, 
and  the  blacks  were  admitted  only  on  the  condition  of  their 
preserving  a  command  over  themselves  in  the  interview. 

Grace  spoke  to  every  one  of  the  females,  taking  leave  of 
each  calmly  and  with  some  useful  and  impressive  admoni 
tion,  while  all  the  older  men  were  also  noticed  personally. 

"  Go,  and  rejoice  that  I  am  so  soon  released  from  the 
cares  of  this  world,"  she  said,  when  the  sad  ceremony  was 
over.  "  Pray  for  me,  and  for  yourselves.  My  brother  knows 
my  wishes  in  your  behalf,  and  will  see  them  executed.  God 
bless  you,  my  friends,  and  have  you  in  his  holy  keeping." 

So  great  was  the  ascendency  Lucy  had  obtained  over 
these  poor  simple  creatures  during  the  short  time  they  had 
been  under  her  mild  but  consistent  rule,  that  each  and  all 
left  the  room  as  quiet  as  children,  awe-struck  by  the  solem 
nity  of  the  scene.  Still,  the  oldest  and  most  wrinkled  of 


106  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

their  cheeks  were  wet  with  tears,  and  it  was  only  by  the  most 
extraordinary  efforts  that  they  were  enabled  to  repress  the 
customary  outbreakings  of  sorrow.  I  had  gone  to  a  window 
to  conceal  my  own  feelings  after  this  leave-taking,  when  a 
rustling  in  the  bushes  beneath  it  caught  my  ear.  Looking 
out,  there  lay  Neb,  flat  on  his  face,  his  Herculean  frame 
extended  at  full  length,  his  hands  actually  griping  the  earth 
under  the  mental  agony  he  endured,  and  yet  the  faithful 
fellow  would  not  even  utter  a  groan,  lest  it  might  reach  his 
young  mistress's  ears,  and  disquiet  her  last  moments.  I 
afterwards  ascertained  he  had  taken  that  post  in  order  that 
he  might  learn  from  time  to  time,  by  means  of  signs  from 
Chloe,  how  things  proceeded  in  the  chamber  above.  Lucy 
soon  recalled  me  to  my  old  post,  Grace  having  expressed 
a  wish  to  that  effect. 

"  It  will  be  but  an  hour,  and  we  shall  all  be  together 
again,"  -Grace  said,  startling  us  all  by  the  clearness  and 
distinctness  of  her  enunciation.  "  The  near  approach  of 
death  places  us  on  a  height  whence  we  can  see  the  entire 
world  and  its  vanities  at  a  single  view." 

I  pressed  the  dying  girl  closer  to  my  heart,  a  species  of 
involuntary  declaration  of  the  difficulty  I  experienced  in 
regarding  her  loss  with  the  religious  philosophy  she  was 
inculcating. 

"  Mourn  not  for  me,  Miles" — she  continued — "yet  I  know 
you  will  mourn.  But  God  will  temper  the  blow,  and  in 
his  mercy  may  cause  it  to  profit  you  for  ever." 

I  did  not,  could  not  answer.  I  saw  Grace  endeavouring 
to  get  a  look  at  my  countenance,  as  if  to  observe  the  effect 
of  the  scene.  By  my  assistance  she  was  so  placed  as  to 
obtain  her  wish.  The  sight,  I  believe,  aroused  feelings 
that  had  begun  to  yield  to  the  influence  of  the  last  great 
change ;  for,  when  my  sister  spoke  next,  it  was  with  a 
tenderness  of  accent  that  proved  how  hard  it  for  those  who 
are  deeply  affectionate  to  lose  their  instincts. 

"  Poor  Miles  !  I  almost  wish  we  could  go  together  !  You 
have  been  a  dear,  good  brother  to  me" — (What  a  sweet 
consolation  I  afterwards  found  in  these  words) — "  It  grieves 
me  to  leave  you  so  nearly  alone  in  the  world.  But  you 
will  have  Mr.  Hardinge,  and  our  Lucy — " 

The  pause,  and  the  look  that  succeeded,  caused  a  slight 


MILES     WA.LLINGFORD.  107 

tremour  to  pass  over  my  frame.  Grace's  eyes  turned 
anxiously  from  me  to  the  form  of  the  kneeling  and  weeping 
Lucy.  I  fancied  that  she  was  about  to  express  a  wish,  or 
some  regret,  in  connection  with  us  two,  that  even  at  such  a 
moment  I  could  not  have  heard  without  betraying  the  con- 
cern  it  would  give  me.  She  did  not  speak,  however,  though 
her  look  was  too  eloquent  to  be  mistaken.  I  asciibed  the 
forbearance  to  the  conviction  that  it  would  be  too  late, 
Lucy's  affections  belonging  to  Andrew  Drewett.  At  that 
instant  I  had  a  bitter  remembrance  of  Neb's  words  of  "  I 
sometime  wish,  Masser  Mile,  you  and  I  nebber  had  see  salt 
water."  But  that  was  not  the  moment  to  permit  such  feel- 
ings  to  get  the  mastery ;  and  Grace,  herself,  felt  too  clearly 
that  her  minutes  were  numbered  to  allow  her  mind  to  dwell 
on  the  subject. 

"  An  Almighty  Providence  will  direct  everything  for  the 
best,  in  this  as  in  other  things,"  she  murmured  ;  though  it 
was  still  some  little  time,  I  thought,  before  her  mind  reverted 
to  her  own  situation.  The  welfare  of  two  as  much  beloved 
as  Lucy  and  myself,  could  not  be  a  matter  of  indifference 
to  one  of  Grace's  disposition,  even  in  the  hour  of  death. 

Mr.  Hardinge  now  knelt,  and  the  next  quarter  of  an  hour 
passed  in  prayer.  When  the  divine  rose  from  his  knees, 
Grace,  her  countenance  beaming  with  an  angelic  serenity, 
gave  him  her  hand,  and  in  a  clear,  distinct  voice,  she  uttered 
a  prayer  for  blessings,  connecting  her  petitions  with  the 
gratitude  due  him,  for  his  care  of  us  orphans.  I  never  saw 
the  old  man  so  much  touched  before.  This  unexpected 
benediction,  for  it  had  that  character,  coming  from  youth  to 
age,  quite  unmanned  him.  The  old  man  sunk  into  a  chair, 
weeping  uncontrollably.  This  aroused  Lucy,  who  regarded 
the  grey  hairs  of  her  father  with  awe,  as  she  witnessed  the 
strength  of  his  emotions.  But  feelings  of  this  nature  could 
not  long  absorb  a  man  like  Mr.  Hardinge,  who  soon  regained 
as  much  of  the  appearance  of  composure  as  it  was  possible 
to  maintain  by  such  a  death-bed. 

"  Many  may  think  me  young  to  die,"  Grace  observed  ; 
"  but  I  am  weary  of  the  world.  It  is  my  wish  to  submit 
myself  to  the  will  of  God ;  but,  blessed  be  his  holy  name, 
that  he  sees  fit  to  call  me  to  him  this  day.  Lucy,  beloved 
one — go  into  the  next  room,  and  draw  the  curtain  asunder  ; 


108  MILES  W  A  LLINGFORD. 

I  shall  then  be  enabled  to  gaze  on  the  fields  of  dear  Claw 
bonny  once  more ;  that  will  be  my  last  look  at  the  outer 
world." 

This  leave-taking  of  inanimate  things,  objects  long  known 
and  loved,  is  of  frequent  occurrence  with  the  dying.  It  is 
not  in  our  natures  to  quit  for  ever  this  beautiful  world,  with 
out  casting  "  one  longing,  lingering  look  behind."  The  hand 
of  its  divine  Creator  was  gloriously  impressed  on  the  rural 
loveliness  of  my  native  fields  that  day,  "and  a  holy  tranquil 
lity  seemed  to  reign  over  the  grain,  the  orchards,  the  mea 
dows,  and  the  wooded  heights.  The  couch  of  Grace  was 
purposely  placed  at  a  point  in  her  own  chamber  that  com 
manded  a  wide  view  of  the  farm,  through  the  vista  formed 
by  the  door  and  windows  of  the  adjoining  room.  Here  she 
had  often  sat,  during  her  confinement  to  her  rooms,  con 
templating  scenes  so  familiar  and  so  much  loved.  I  saw 
her  lips  quiver  as  she  now  gazed  on  them  for  the  last  time, 
and  was  convinced  some  unusual  sentiment,  connected  with 
the  past,  pressed  on  her  feelings  at  that  instant.  I  could 
see  the  same  view  myself,  and  perceived  that  her  eyes  were 
riveted  on  the  little  wood  where  Rupert  and  I  had  met  the 
girls  on  our  return  from  sea;  a  favourite  place  of  resort,  and 
one  that,  I  doubted  not,  had  often  been  the  witness  of  the 
early  confidence  between  Grace  and  her  recreant  lover. 
Death  was  actually  hovering  over  that  sainted  being  at  the 
moment ;  but  her  woman's  heart  was  not,  could  not,  be  in 
sensible  to  the  impressions  produced  by  such  a  sight.  In 
vain  the  warm  light  from  the  heavens  bathed  the  whole 
landscape  in  a  flood  of  glory ;  in  vain  the  meadows  put 
forth  their  flowers,  the  woods  their  variegated,  bright,  Ame 
rican  verdure,  and  the  birds  their  innocent  gaiety  and  bril 
liant  plumage ;  the  fancy  of  Grace  was  portraying  scenes 
that  had  once  been  connected  with  the  engrossing  sentiment 
of  her  life.  I  felt  her  tremble,  as  she  lay  in  my  arms  ;  and 
bending  my  head  towards  her  in  tender  concern,  I  could  just 
distinguish  the  murmuring  of  a  prayer  that  it  was  easy  to 
understand  was  a  petition  offered  up  in  behalf  of  Rupert, 
This  done,  she  asked,  herself,  to  have  the  curtain  drawn 
again,  to  shut  out  the  obtrusive  thought  for  ever. 

I  have  often  thought,  since  the  events  of  that  sad  day, 
that  Grace's  dissolution  was  hastened  by  this  accidental  re- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  109 

currence  of  her  mind  to  Rupert  and  his  forgotten  love.  I 
call  it  love,  though  I  question  if  a  being  so  thoroughly  selfish 
ever  truly  loved  any  one  but  himself;  perhaps  not  himself, 
indeed,  in  a  way  to  entitle  the  feeling  to  so  respectable  an 
epithet.  Grace  certainly  drooped  the  faster  from  that  unfor 
tunate  moment.  It  is  true,  we  all  expected  her  death,  thought 
it  would  occur  that  day  even,  though  surprised  at  the  sudden 
ness  with  which  it  came  at  last ;  but  we  did  not  expect  it 
within  an  hour. 

And  what  an  hour  was  that  which  succeeded !  Both  Mr. 
Hardinge  and  Lucy  passed  quite  half  of  it  on  their  knees, 
engaged  in  silent  prayer ;  for  it  was  thought  petitions  utter 
ed  aloud  might  disturb  the  sick.  There  were  minutes  in 
which  the  stillness  of  the  tomb  already  reigned  among  us. 
I  am  not  enough  of  a  physician  to  say  whether  the  change 
that  now  came  over  my  sister's  mind  was  the  consequence 
of  any  shock  received  in  that  long,  intense  look  at  the  wood, 
or  whether  it  proceeded  from  the  sinking  of  the  system,  and 
was  connected  with  that  mysterious  link  which  binds  the 
immortal  part  of  our  being  so  closely  to  the  material,  until 
the  tie  is  loosened  forever.  It  is  certain,  however,  that 
Grace's  thoughts  wandered ;  and,  while  they  never  lost  en 
tirely  their  leaning  towards  faith  and  a  bright  Christian 
hope,  they  became  tinctured  with  something  allied  to  childish 
simplicity,  if  not  absolutely  to  mental  weakness.  Neverthe 
less,  there  was  a  moral  beauty  about  Grace,  that  no  failing 
of  the  faculties  could  ever  totally  eradicate. 

It  was  fully  half  an  hour  that  the  breathing  quiet  of 
prayer  lasted.  In  all  that  time  my  sister  scarcely  stirred, 
her  own  hands  being  clasped  together,  and  her  eyes  occa 
sionally  lifted  to  heaven.  At  length  she  seemed  to  revive  a 
little,  and  to  observe  external  objects.  In  the  end,  she 
spoke. 

"  Lucy,  dearest,"  she  said,  "  what  has  become  of  Rupert  ? 
Does  he  know  I  am  dying?  If  so,  why  does  he  not  como 
and  see  me,  for  the  last  time  ?" 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  for  me  to  say  how  much  Lucy 
and  myself  were  startled  at  this  question.  The  former 
buried  her  face  in  her  hands  without  making  any  reply ; 
but  good  Mr.  Hardinge,  altogether  unconscious  of  anything's 
wrong,  was  eager  to  exculpate  his  son. 
0 


110  MILES     WALLING  FORD  . 

"  Rupert  has  been  sent  for,  my  dear  child,"  he  said,  "  and, 
though  he  is  engrossed  with  love  and  Miss  Merton,  he 
will  not  fail  to  hasten  hither  the  instant  he  receives  my 
letter." 

"  Miss  Merton  !"  repeated  Grace,  pressing  both  her  hands 
on  her  temples — "  who  is  she  1  I  do  not  remember  anybody 
of  that  name  ?" 

We  now  understood  that  the  mind  of  the  dear  patient  was 
losing  its  powers ;  of  course  no  efforts  were  made  to  give  a 
truer  direction  to  her  thoughts.  We  could  only  listen,  and 
weep.  Presently,  Grace  passed  an  arm  round  the  neck  of 
Lucy,  and  drew  her  towards  her,  with  a  childish  earnest 
ness. 

"  Lucy,  love,"  she  continued  —  "  we  will  persuade  these 
foolish  boys  from  this  notion  of  going  to  sea.  What  if 
Miles's  father,  and  Rupert's  great-grand-father  were  sailors; 
it  is  no  reason  they  should  be  sailors  too !" 

She  paused,  appeared  to  meditate,  and  turned  towards 
me.  Her  head  was  still  inclining  on  my  bosom,  and  she 
gazed  upwards  at  my  face,  as  fondly  as  she  did  in  that 
tender  meeting  we  held  just  after  my  return  home,  in  the 
family  room.  There  was  sufficient  strength  to  enable  her 
to  raise  her  pallid  but  not  emaciated  hand  to  my  face,  even 
while  she  passed  it  over  my  cheeks,  once  more  parting  the 
curls  on  my  temples,  and  playing  with  my  hair,  with  in 
fantile  fondness. 

"  Miles,"  the  dear  angel  whispered,  utterance  beginning 
to  fail  her  —  "  do  you  remember  what  mother  told  us  about 
always  speaking  the  truth  ?  You  are  a  manly  boy,  brother, 
and  have  too  much  pride  to  say  anything  but  the  truth ;  I 
wish  Rupert  were  as  frank." 

This  was  the  first,  the  last,  the  only  intimation  I  had  ever 
heard  from  Grace,  of  her  being  conscious  of  any  defect  in 
Rupert's  character.  Would  to  God  she  had  seen  this  im 
portant  deficiency  earlier !  though  this  is  wishing  a  child  to 
possess  the  discernment  and  intelligence  of  a  woman.  The 
hand  was  still  on  my  cheek,  and  I  would  not  have  had  it 
removed  at  that  bitter  moment  to  have  been  well  assured  of 
Lucy's  love. 

"  See,"  my  sister  resumed,  though  she  now  spoke  merely 
in  a  whisper  —  "  how  brown  his  cheek  is,  though  his  fore- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  Ill 

head  is  white.  I  doubt  if  mother  would  know  him,  Lucy. 
Is  Rupert's  cheek  as  brown  as  this,  dear  ?" 

"  Rupert  has  not  been  as  much  exposed  of  late  as  Miles/' 
Lucy  answered  huskily,  Grace's  arm  still  clinging  to  her 
neck. 

The  well-known  voice  appeared  to  awaken  a  new  train  of 
thought. 

"  Lucy,"  my  sister  asked,  "  are  you  as  fond  of  Miles  as 
we  both  used  to  be,  when  children  ?" 

"  I  have  always  had,  and  shall  ever  retain,  a  deep  affec 
tion  for  Miles  Wallingford,"  Lucy  answered,  steadily. 

Grace  now  turned  towards  me,  releasing  her  hold  of 
Lucy's  neck,  from  pure  inability  to  sustain  it;  and  she 
fastened  her  serene  blue  eyes  on  my  countenance,  whence 
they  never  deviated  while  she  breathed.  My  tears  were  un 
controllable,  and  they  seemed  to  perplex  rather  that  distress 
her.  Of  a  sudden,  we  heard  her  voice  aloud,  speaking 
gently,  but  with  a  fervour  that  rendered  it  distinct.  The 
words  she  uttered  were  full  of  the  undying  affection  of  a 
heart  that  never  turned  away  from  me  for  a  single  instant ; 
no,  not  even  in  the  petulance  of  childhood.  "Almighty 
Father,"  she  said,  "  look  down  from  thy  mercy-seat  on  this 
dear  brother — keep  him  for  thyself;  and,  in  thy  good  time, 
call  him,  through  the  Saviour's  love,  to  thy  mansions  of 
bliss." 

These  were  the  last  words  that  Grace  Wallingford  ever 
spoke.  She  lived  ten  minutes  longer ;  and  she  died  on  my 
bosom  like  the  infant  that  breathes  its  last  in  the  arms  of  its 
mother.  Her  lips  moved  several  times ;  once  I  fancied  1 
caught  the  name  of  "  Lucy,"  though  I  have  reason  to  think 
she  prayed  for  us  all,  Rupert  included,  down  to  the  moment 
she  ceased  to  exist. 


112  MILES     WALLING  FORD 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

"  There  have  been  sweet  singing  voices 

In  your  walks  that  now  are  still ; 
There  are  seats  left  void,  in  your  earthly  homes, 
Which  none  again  may  fill." 

MRS.  HEMANS. 

I  NEVER  saw  the  body  of  my  sister,  after  I  handed  it,  re 
sembling  a  sleeping  infant,  to  the  arms  of  Lucy.  There  is  a 
sort  of  mania  in  some,  a  morbid  curiosity,  to  gaze  on  the 
features  of  the  dead ;  but,  with  me,  it  has  ever  been  the  re 
verse.  I  had  been  taken  to  the  family  room  to  contemplate 
and  weep  over  the  faces  of  both  my  parents,  but  this  was  at 
an  age  when  it  became  me  to  be  passive.  I  was  now  at  a 
time  of  life  when  I  might  be  permitted  to  judge  for  myself ; 
and,  as  soon  as  I  began  to  think  at  all  on  the  subject,  which 
was  not  for  some  hours,  however,  I  resolved  that  the  last 
look  of  love,  the  sweet  countenance,  sinking  in  death  it  is 
true,  but  still  animate  and  beaming  with  the  sentiments  of 
her  pure  heart,  should  be  the  abiding  impression  of  my 
sister's  form.  I  have  cherished  it  ever  since,  and  often 
have  I  rejoiced  that  I  did  not  permit  any  subsequent  images 
of  a  corpse  to  supplant  it.  As  respects  both  my  parents, 
the  images  left  on  my  mind,  for  years  and  years,  was  pain 
ful  rather  than  pleasing. 

Grace's  body  was  no  sooner  out  of  my  arms,  I  had 
scarcely  imprinted  the  last  long  kiss  on  the  ivory-like  but 
still  warm  forehead,  than  I  left  the  house.  Clawbonny  had 
no  impertinent  eyes  to  drive  a  mourner  to  his  closet,  and  I 
felt  as  if  it  were  impossible  to  breathe  unless  I  could  obtain 
the  freedom  of  the  open  air.  As  I  crossed  the  little  lawn, 
the  wails  from  the  kitchens  reached  me.  Now  that  the  in 
valid  tsould  no  longer  be  disturbed  by  their  lamentations,  the 
unsophisticated  negroes  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  without 
reserve.  I  heard  their  outcries  long  after  every  other  sound 
from  the  house  was  lost  on  my  ear. 


MILES     W  A  LLING  FORD.  113 

I  held  my  way  along  the  road,  with  no  other  view  but  to 
escape  from  the  scene  I  had  just  quitted,  and  entered  the 
very  little  wood  which  might  be  said  to  have  been  the  last 
object  of  the  external  world  that  had  attracted  my  sister's 
attention.  Here  everything  reminded  me  of  the  past ;  of  the 
days  of  childhood  and  youth ;  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
four  Clawbonny  children  had  lived  together,  and  roamed 
these  very  thickets,  in  confidence  and  love.  I  sat  in  that 
wood  an  hour ;  a  strange,  unearthly  hour  it  seemed  to  me ! 
I  saw  Grace's  angel  countenance  imprinted  on  the  leaves, 
heard  her  low  but  gay  laugh,  as  she  was  wont  to  let  it  be 
heard  in  the  hours  of  happiness,  and  the  tones  of  her  gentle 
voice  sounded  in  my  ears  almost  as  familiarly  as  in  life. 
Rupert  and  Lucy  were  there  too.  I  saw  them,  heard  them, 
and  tried  to  enter  into  their  innocent  merriment,  as  I  had 
done  of  old  ;  but  fearful  glimpses  of  the  sad  truth  would  in 
terpose,  in  time  to  break  the  charm. 

When  I  left  that  little  wood,  it  was  to  seek  a  larger  cover, 
and  fields  farther  removed  from  the  house.  It  was  dark 
before  I  thought  of  returning ;  all  that  time  was  passed  in  a 
species  of  mystical  hallucination,  in  which  the  mind  was 
lost  in  scenes  foreign  to  those  actually  present.  I  saw  Grace's 
sweet  image  everywhere ;  I  heard  her  voice  at  every  turn. 
Now  she  was  the  infant  I  was  permitted  to  drag  in  her  little 
wagon,  the  earliest  of  all  my  impressions  of  that  beloved 
sister ;  then,  she  was  following  me  as  I  trundled  my  hoop ; 
next  came  her  little  lessons  in  morals,  and  warnings  against 
doing  wrong,  or  some  grave  but  gentle  reproof  for  errors 
actually  committed ;  after  which,  I  saw  her  in  the  pride  of 
young  womanhood,  lovely  and  fitted  to  be  loved,  the  sharer 
of  my  confidence,  and  one  capable  of  entering  into  all  my 
plans  of  life.  How  often  that  day  did  the  murmuring  of  a 
brook  or  the  humming  of  a  bee  become  blended  in  my  ima 
gination  with  the  song,  the  laugh,  the  call,  or  the  prayers 
of  that  beloved  sister  whose  spirit  had  ascended  to  heaven, 
and  who  was  no  more  to  mingle  in  my  concerns  or  those 
of  life ! 

At  one  time  I  had  determined  to  pass  the  night  abroad, 

and  commune  with  the  stars,  each  of  which  I  fancied,  in 

turn,  as  they  began  slowly  to  show  themselves  in  the  vault 

above,  might  be  the  abiding-place  of  the  departed  spirit.   If 

10* 


114  MILES     W  A  L  LI  N  G  FOR  D. 

I  thought  so  much  and  so  intensely  of  Grace,  I  thought  also 
of  Lucy.  Nor  was  good  Mr.  Hardinge  entirely  forgottea. 
I  felt  for  their  uneasiness,  and  saw  it  was  my  duty  to  return. 
Neb,  and  two  or  three  others  of  the  blacks,  had  been  look 
ing  for  me  in  all  directions  but  that  in  which  I  was ;  and  I 
felt  a  melancholy  pleasure  as  I  occasionally  saw  these  sim 
ple-minded  creatures  meet  and  converse.  Their  gestures, 
their  earnestness,  their  tears,  for  I  could  see  that  they  were 
often  weeping,  indicated  alike  that  they  were  speaking  of 
their  "  young  mistress ;"  how  they  spoke,  I  wanted  no  other 
communications  to  understand. 

Ours  had  ever  been  a  family  of  love.  My  father,  manly, 
affectionate,  and  strongly  attached  to  my  mother,  was  admi 
rably  suited  to  sustain  that  dominion  of  the  heart  which  the 
last  had  established  from  her  earliest  days  at  Clawbonny. 
This  power  of  the  feelings  had  insensibly  extended  itself  to 
the  slaves,  who  seldom  failed  to  manifest  how  keenly  alive 
they  all  were  to  the  interests  and  happiness  of  their  owners. 
Among  the  negroes  there  was  but  one  who  was  considered 
as  fallen  below  his  proper  level,  or  who  was  regarded  as  an 
outcast.  This  was  an  old  fellow  who  bore  the  name  of 
Vulcan,  and  who  worked  as  a  blacksmith  on  the  skirts  of 
the  farm,  having  been  named  by  my  grandfather  with  the 
express  intention  of  placing  him  at  the  anvil.  This  fellow's 
trade  caused  him  to  pass  most  of  his  youth  in  an  adjacent 
village,  or  hamlet,  where  unfortunately  he  had  acquired 
habits  that  unsuited  him  to  live  as  those  around  him  were 
accustomed  to  live.  He  became  in  a  measure  alienated  from 
us,  drinking,  and  otherwise  living  a  life  that  brought  great 
scandal  on  his  sable  connections,  who  were  gathered  more 
closely  around  the  homestead.  Nevertheless,  a  death,  or  a 
return  home,  or  any  important  event  in  the  family,  was  sure 
to  bring  even  Vulcan  back  to  his  allegiance;  and,  for  a  month 
afterwards,  he  would  be  a  reformed  man.  On  this  occasion 
he  was  one  of  those  who  were  out  in  the  fields  and  woods  in 
quest  of  me,  and  he  happened  to  be  the  very  individual  by 
whom  I  was  discovered. 

The  awe-struck,  solemn  manner  in  which  the  reckless 
Vulcan  approached,  were  all  other  proofs  wanting,  would 
have  proclaimed  the  weight  of  the  blow  that  had  fallen  on 
Clawbonny.  The  eyes  of  this  fellow  were  always  red,  but 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  115 

it  was  easy  to  see  that  even  he  had  been  shedding  tears. 
He  knew  he  was  no  favourite;  seldom  came  near  me,  unless 
it  were  to  excuse  some  of  his  neglects  or  faults,  and  lived 
under  a  sort  of  ban  for  his  constantly  recurring  misdeeds. 
Nevertheless,  a  common  cause  of  grief  now  gave  him  confi 
dence,  and  Neb  himself  could  hardly  have  approached  me 
with  a  manner  of  more  easy  but  respectful  familiarity. 

"  Ah !  Masser  Mile !  Masser  Mile !"  Vulcan  exclaimed, 
certain  that  we  felt  alike  on  this  topic,  if  on  no  other ;  "  poor 
young  missus  !  when  we  ebber  get  'noder  like  she  /" 

"  My  sister  is  in  heaven,  Vulcan,  where  I  hope  all  at 
Clawbonny,  blacks  as  well  as  whites,  will  endeavour  to  meet 
her,  by  living  in  a  manner  that  will  improve  the  mercy  of 
God." 

"You  t'ink  dat  posserbul,  Masser  Mile?"  demanded  the 
old  man,  fixing  his  dull  eyes  on  me,  with  an  earnest  intent- 
ness  that  proved  he  had  not  entirely  lost  all  sensibility  to 
his  moral  condition. 

"  All  things  are  possible  with  God,  Vulcan.  Keeping  him 
and  his  commandments  constantly  in  mind,  you  may  still 
hope  to  see  your  young  mistress,  and  to  share  in  her  happi 
ness." 

"  Wonnerful !"  exclaimed  the  old  man ;  "  dat  would  be  a 
great  conserlation.  Ah  !  Masser  Mile,  how  often  she  come 
when  a  little  lady  to  my  shop  door,  and  ask  to  see  'e  spark 
fly !  Miss  Grace  hab  a  great  taste  for  blacksmit'in',  and  a 
great  knowledge  too.  I  do  t'ink,  dat  next  to  some  oder  t'ing, 
she  lub  to  see  iron  red-hot,  and  'e  horse  shod  !" 

"  You  have  come  to  look  for  me,  Vulcan,  and  I  thank  you 
for  this  care.  I  shall  return  to  the  house  presently ;  you 
need  give  yourself  no  further  trouble.  Remember,  old  man, 
that  the  only  hope  that  remains  of  either  of  us  ever  seeing 
Miss  Grace  again,  is  in  living  as  Mr.  Hardinge  so  often  tells 
us  all  we  ought  to  live." 

"  Wonnerful !"  repeated  old  Vulcan,  whose  mind  and 
feelings  were  in  a  happy  condition  to  receive  such  a  lesson. 
"  Yes,  saA,  Masser  Mile ;  she  come  to  my  shop  to  see  'e 
spark  fly  ; — I  shall  miss  her  like  a  darter." 

This  was  a  specimen  of  the  feelings  that  prevailed  among 
the  negroes,  though  the  impression  on  most  of  the  others 
was  more  lasting  than  that  made  on  the  blacksmith,  whom  I 


116  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

now  dismissed,  taking  the  path  myself  that  led  to  the  house, 
it  was  quite  dark  when  I  crossed  the  lawn.  A  figure  was 
just  visible  in  the  shadows  of  the  piazza,  and  I  was  on  the 
point  of  turning  in  the  direction  of  a  side  door,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  meeting,  when  Lucy  advanced  eagerly  to  the  edge 
of  the  steps  to  receive  me. 

"  Oh  !  Miles  —  dear  Miles,  how  happy  I  am  to  see  you 
again,"  the  precious  girl  said,  taking  my  hand  with  the 
warmth  and  frankness  of  a  sister.  "My  father  and  myself 
have  been  very  uneasy  about  you ;  my  father,  indeed,  has 
walked  towards  the  rectory,  thinking  you  may  have  gone 
thither." 

"  I  have  been  with  you,  and  Grace,  and  your  father,  my 
good  Lucy,  ever  since  we  parted.  I  am  more  myself  now, 
however,  and  you  need  feel  no  further  concern  on  my  ac 
count.  I  thank  you  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  for  that 
which  you  have  already  felt,  and  will  give  you  no  further 
concern." 

The  manner  in  which  Lucy  now  burst  into  tears  betrayed 
the  intensity  of  the  feelings  that  had  been  pent  up  in  her 
bosom,  and  the  relief  she  found  in  my  assurances.  She  did 
not  scruple,  even,  about  leaning  on  my  shoulder,  so  long  as 
the  paroxysm  lasted.  As  soon  as  able  to  command  herself, 
however,  she  wiped  her  eyes,  again  took  my  hand  with 
confiding  affection,  looked  anxiously  towards  me  as  she 
said,  soothingly — 

"  We  have  met  with  a  great  loss,  Miles ;  one  that  even 
time  cannot  repair.  Neither  of  us  can  ever  find  another  to 
fill  the  place  that  Grace  has  occupied.  Our  lives  cannot  be 
lived  over  again ;  we  cannot  return  to  childhood ;  feel  as 
children  ;  love  as  children  ;  live  as  children  ;  and  grow  up 
together,  as  it  might  be,  with  one  heart,  with  the  same  views, 
the  same  wishes,  the  same  opinions ;  I  hope  it  is  not  pre 
suming  on  too  great  a  resemblance  to  the  departed  angel, 
if  I  add,  the  same  principles." 

"  No,  Lucy  ;  the  past,  for  us,  is  gone  for  ever.  Clawbonny 
will  never  again  be  the  Clawbonny  it  was." 

There  was  a  pause,  during  which  I  fancied  Lucy  was 
struggling  to  repress  some  fresh  burst  of  emotion. 

"  Yet,  Miles,"  she  presently  resumed,  "  we  could  not  ask 
to  have  her  recalled  from  that  bliss  which  we  have  so  much 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  117 

reason  to  believe  she  is  even  now  enjoying.  In  a  short  time 
Grace  will  be  to  you  and  me  a  lovely  and  grateful  image  of 
goodness,  and  virtue,  and  affection ;  and  we  shall  have  a 
saddened,  perhaps,  but  a  deep-felt  pleasure  in  remembering 
how  much  we  enjoyed  of  her  affection,  and  how  closely  she 
was  united  to  us  both  in  life." 

«« That  will  be  indeed  a  link  between  us  two,  Lucy,  that 
I  trust  may  withstand  all  the  changes  and  withering  selfish 
ness  of  the  world !" 

"  I  hope  it  may,  Miles,"  Lucy  answered,  in  a  low  voice ; 
and,  as  I  fancied  at  the  moment,  with  an  embarrassment 
that  I  did  not  fail  to  attribute  to  the  consciousness  she  felt 
of  Andrew  D re wett's  claims  on  all  such  intimate  association 
of  feeling.  "  We,  who  have  known  each  other  from  children, 
can  scarcely  want  causes  for  continuing  to  esteem  and  to 
regard  each  other  with  affection." 

Lucy  now  appeared  to  think  she  might  trust  me  to  my 
self,  and  she  led  the  way  into  the  house.  I  did  not  see  her 
again  until  Mr.  Hardinge  caused  the  whole  household  to  be 
assembled  at  evening  prayers.  The  meeting  of  the  family 
that  night  was  solemn  and  mournful.  For  myself,  I  fancied 
that  the  spirit  of  Grace  was  hovering  around  us ;  more  than 
once  did  I  fancy  that  I  heard  her  sweet  voice  mingling  in 
the  petitions,  or  leading  the  service,  as  was  her  practice  on 
those  occasions  when  our  good  guardian  could  not  attend. 
I  observed  all  the  negroes  looking  at  rne  with  solicitude,  like 
those  who  recognised  my  right  to  feel  the  blow  the  deepest. 
It  was  a  touching  evidence  of  respectful  interest  that  each 
man  bowed  to  me  reverently,  and  each  woman  curtsied,  as 
he  or  she  left  the  room.  As  for  Chloe,  sobs  nearly  choked 
her ;  the  poor  girl  having  refused  to  quit  the  body  of  her 
mistress  except  for  that  short  moment.  I  thought  Lucy 
would  have  remained  with  her  father  and  myself  for  a  few 
minutes,  but  for  the  necessity  of  removing  this  poor  heart- 
stricken  creature,  who  really  felt  as  if  the  death  of  her 
young  mistress  was  a  loss  of  part  of  her  own  existence. 

I  have  already  dwelt  on  the  circumstances  attending  the 
death  of  Grace  longer  than  I  intended,  and  shall  now  cease 
to  harass  my  own  feelings,  or  to  distress  those  of  my  readers 
by  unnecessarily  enlarging  on  more  of  the  details.  The  next 
three  or  four  days  produced  the  usual  calm ;  and  though  it 


118  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

was  literally  years  ere  Lucy  or  myself  ceased  altogether  to 
weep  for  her  loss,  we  both  obtained  the  self-command  that 
was  necessary  for  the  discharge  of  our  ordinary  duties. 
Grace,  it  will  be  remembered,  died  of  a  Sunday,  about  the 
usual  hour  for  dinner.  Agreeably  to  the  custom  of  the 
country,  in  which  there  is  usually  a  little  too  much  of  an 
indecent  haste  in  disposing  of  the  dead,  owing  in  some  degree 
to  climate,  however,  the  funeral  would  have  taken  place  on 
Wednesday,  and  that  would  have  been  delaying  twenty-four 
hours  longer  than  might  have  been  granted  in  most  cases ; 
but  Mr.  Hardinge,  who  gave  all  the  directions,  had  named 
Thursday  noon  as  the  hour  for  the  interment.  We  had  few 
relatives  to  expect ;  most  of  those  who  would  have  been 
likely  to  attend,  had  circumstances  admitted  of  it,  living  in 
distant  places  that  rendered  it  inconvenient,  and  indeed 
scarcely  possible. 

I  passed  most  of  the  intervening  time  in  my  study,  reading 
and  indulging  in  such  contemplations  as  naturally  suggest 
themselves  to  the  mourner.  Lucy,  dear  girl,  had  written 
me  two  or  three  short  notes,  asking  my  wishes  on  various 
points ;  among  other  things,  when  I  wished  to  pay  a  last 
visit  to  the  body.  My  answer  to  this  question  brought  her 
to  my  room,  with  some  little  surprise  of  manner;  for  she 
had  been  so  much  with  Grace,  living  and  dead,  as  to  think 
it  strange  one  who  had  loved  her  so  well  while  living  should 
not  desire  to  take  a  final  look  at  the  beautiful  remains.  I 
explained  my  feelings  on  this  head,  and  Lucy  seemed  struck 
with  them. 

"  I  am  not  sure  you  will  not  have  decided  wisely,  Miles," 
she  said  —  "  the  picture  being  one  too  precious  to  destroy. 
You  will  be  gratified  in  knowing,  however,  that  Grace  re 
sembles  an  angel  quite  as  much  in  death  as  she  did  in  life; 
all  who  have  seen  her  being  struck  with  the  air  of  peaceful 
tranquillity  her  features  now  present." 

"Bless  you  —  bless  you,  Lucy  —  this  is  all-sufficient.  1 
did  wish  for  some  such  assurance,  and  am  now  content." 

"  Several  of  your  family  are  in  the  house,  Miles,  in  readi- 
ness  to  aUend  the  funeral ;  a  stranger  has  just  arrived  who 
seems  to  have  some  such  desire,  too,  though  his  face  is  un 
known  to  all  at  the  place.  He  has  asked  to  sue  you  with  an 
earnestness  that  my  father  scarce  knows  how  to  refuse." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  119 

"  Let  him  come  here,  then,  Lucy.  I  can  only  suppose  it 
to  be  some  one  of  the  many  persons  Grace  has  served ;  her 
short  life  was  all  activity  in  that  particular." 

Lucy's  face  did  not  corroborate  that  notion  ;  but  she  with 
drew  to  let  my  decision  be  known.  In  a  few  minutes  a 
large,  hard-featured,  but  not  ill-looking  man  approaching 
fifty,  entered  my  room,  walked  up  to  me  with  tears  in  his 
eyes,  squeezed  my  hand  warmly,  and  then  seated  himself 
without  ceremony.  He  was  attired  like  a  thriving  country 
man,  though  his  language,  accent,  and  manner  denoted  one 
superior  to  the  ordinary  run  of  those  with  whom  he  was 
otherwise  associated  in  externals.  I  had  to  look  at  him  a 
second  time  ere  I  could  recognise  Jack  Wallingford,  my 
father's  bachelor  cousin,  the  western  land-holder. 

"  I  see  by  your  look,  cousin  Miles,  that  you  only  half- 
remember  me,"  my  visitor  remarked ;  "  I  deeply  regret  that 
I  am  obliged  to  renew  our  acquaintance  on  so  melancholy 
an  occasion." 

"  There  are  so  few  of  us  left,  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  this 
kindness  will  be  doubly  appreciated,"  I  answered.  "  If  I 
did  not  give  orders  to  have  you  apprised  of  the  loss  we  have 
all  sustained,  it  is  because  your  residence  is  so  far  from 
Clawbonny  as  to  render  it  improbable  you  could  have  re 
ceived  the  intelligence  in  time  to  attend  the  solemn  ceremony 
that  remains  to  be  performed.  I  did  intend  to  write  to  you, 
when  a  little  better  fitted  to  perform  such  a  duty." 

"  I  thank  you,  cousin.  The  blood  and  name  of  Walling 
ford  are  very  near  and  dear  to  me,  and  Clawbonny  has 
always  seemed  a  sort  of  home." 

"  The  dear  creature  who  now  lies  dead  under  its  roof, 
cousin  John,  so  considered  you ;  and  you  may  be  pleased  to 
know  that  she  wished  me  to  leave  you  this  property  in  my 
will  the  last  time  I  went  to  sea,  as  of  the  direct  line,  a  Wal 
lingford  being  the  proper  owner  of  Clawbonny.  In  that 
particular,  she  preferred  your  claims  to  her  own." 

"  Ay,  this  agrees  with  all  I  ever  heard  of  the  angel,"  an 
swered  John  Wallingford,  dashing  a  tear  from  his  eyes,  a 
circumstance  that  gave  one  a  favourable  opinion  of  his 
heart.  "  Of  course  you  refused,  and  left  the  property  to 
herself,  who  had  a  better  right  to  it." 


120  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

t<fl  did  sir ;  though  she  threatened  to  transfer  it  to  you, 
the  moment  it  became  her's." 

"  A  threat  she  would  have  found  it  difficult  to  execute,  as 
[  certainly  would  have  refused  to  receive  it.  We  are  half 
savages,  no  doubt,  out  west  of  the  bridge ;  but  our  lands  are 
beginning  to  tell  in  the  markets,  and  we  count  already  some 
rich  men  among  us." 

This  was  said  with  a  self-satisfied  manner,  that  my  cousin 
was  a  little  too  apt  to  assume  when  property  became  the 
subject  of  conversation.  I  had  occasion  several  times  that 
day,  even,  to  remark  that  he  attached  a  high  value  to  money  ; 
though,  at  the  same  time,  it  struck  me  that  most  of  his  no 
tions  were  just  and  honourable.  He  quite  worked  his  way 
into  my  favour,  however,  by  the  respect  he  manifested  for 
Clawbonny,  and  all  that  belonged  to  it.  So  deep  was  this 
veneration,  that  I  began  to  think  of  the  necessity  of  making 
a  new  will,  in  order  to  bequeath  him  the  place  in  the  event 
of  my  dying  without  heirs,  as  I  now  imagined  must  sooner 
or  later  occur.  As  Lucy  was  not  likely  to  be  my  wife,  no 
one  else,  I  fancied,  ever  should  be.  I  had  nearer  relations 
than  Jack  Wallingford,  some  of  whom  were  then  in  the 
house;  cousins-german  by  both  father  and  mother;  but 
they  were  not  of  the  direct  line ;  and  I  knew  that  Miles  the 
First  would  have  made  this  disposition  of  the  place,  could 
he  have  foreseen  events,  and  had  the  law  allowed  it.  Then 
Grace  had  wished  such  an  arrangement,  and  I  had  a  sad 
happiness  in  executing  all  the  known  wishes  of  my  sister. 

The  funeral  did  not  occur  until  the  day  after  the  arrival 
of  John  Wallingford,  who  accidentally  heard  of  the  death 
that  had  occurred  in  the  family,  and  came  uninvited  to  at 
tend  the  obsequies,  as  has  been  mentioned.  I  passed  most 
of  the  evening  in  the  company  of  this  relative,  with  whom  I 
became  so  much  pleased  as  to  request  he  would  walk  with 
me  next  day  as  second  nearest  of  kin.  This  arrangement, 
as  I  had  reason  to  know  in  the  end,  gave  great  offence  to 
several  who  stood  one  degree  nearer  in  blood  to  the  deceased, 
though  not  of  her  name.  Thus  are  we  constituted  !  —  we 
will  quarrel  over  a  grave  even,  a  moment  that  should  lay 
open  eternity  to  our  view,  with  all  its  immense  consequences 
and  accompaniments,  in  order  to  vindicate  feelings  and  pas 
sions  that  can  only  interest  us,  as  it  might  be,  for  a  day. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  121 

Fortunately  I  knew  nothing  of  the  offence  that  was  taken  at 
the  time,  nor  did  I  see  any  of  my  kinsmen  but  John  Wai- 
(ingtbrd  that  evening;  his  presence  in  my  room  being  owing 
altogether  to  a  certain  self-possession  and  an  d  plomb  that 
caused  him  to  do  very  much  as  he  pleased  in  such  matters. 

I  rose  on  the  following  morning  at  a  late  hour,  and  with  a 
heaviness  at  the  heart  that  was  natural  to  the  occasion.  It 
was  a  lovely  summer's  day;  but  all  in  and  around  Claw- 
bonny  wore  the  air  of  a  Sunday.  The  procession  was  to 
form  at  ten  o'clock ;  and,  as  I  cast  rny  eyes  from  my  win 
dow,  I  could  see  the  negroes  moving  about  on  the  lawns, 
and  in  the  lanes,  attired  in  their  best,  but  wearing  no  holiday 
foccs.  It  seemed  to  me  to  be  a  species  of  unnatural  Sabbath, 
possessing  all  its  solemnity,  its  holy  stillness,  its  breathing 
calm,  but  wanting  in  that  solacing  spirit  of  peace  which  is 
so  apt  to  be  imparted  to  the  day  of  rest  in  the  country,  most 
particularly  at  that  season  of  the  year.  Several  of  the 
neighbours,  who  did  not  belong  to  Ciawbonny,  were  begin 
ning  to  appear;  and  I  felt  the  necessity  of  dressing  in  order 
to  be  in  readiness  for  what  was  to  follow. 

I  had  eaten  alone  in  my  little  study  or  library  from  the 
time  my  sister  died,  and  had  seen  no  one  since  my  return  to 
the  house,  the  servants  excepted,  besides  my  guardian,  Lucy, 
and  John  Wallingford.  The  last  had  taken  a  light  supper 
with  me  the  previous  night ;  but  he  was  then  breakfasting 
with  the  rest  of  the  guests  in  the  family  eating-room,  Mr. 
Hardinge  doing  the  honours  of  the  house. 

As  for  myself,  I  found  rny  own  little  table  prepared  with 
its  coffee  and  light  meal,  as  I  had  ordered  before  retiring. 
It  had  two  cups,  however,  and  a  second  plate  had  been  laid 
in  addition  to  my  own.  I  pointed  to  this  arrangement,  and 
demanded  of  the  old  white-headed  house-servant,  who  was 
in  waiting,  what  it  meant. 

"  Miss  Lucy,  sah  —  she  say  she  mean  to  breakfast  wid 
Masser  Mile,  dis  mornin',  sah." 

Even  the  accents  of  this  negro  were  solemn  and  sad  as 
he  made  this  familiar  explanation,  like  those  of  a  man  who 
was  conscious  of  having  reached  an  hour  and  an  occasion 
that  called  for  peculiar  awe.  I  bade  him  let  Miss  Lucy  know 
that  I  was  in  the  study. 
11 


122  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  Ah,  Masser  Mile,"  added  the  old  man,  with  tears  in  his 
eyes  as  he  left  the  room,  "  Miss  Lucy  'e  only  young  missus 
now,  sah !" 

In  a  few  minutes  Lucy  joined  me.  She  was  in  deep  black 
of  course,  and  that  may  have  added  to  the  appearance  of 
paleness ;  but  no  one  could  be  deceived  in  the  manner  in 
which  the  dear  girl  had  mourned  and  wept  since  we  parted. 
The  subdued  expression  of  her  face  gave  it  a  peculiar  sweet 
ness  ;  and,  in  spite  of  the  absence  of  colour,  I  thought,  as 
Lucy  advanced  towards  me,  both  hands  extended,  and  a 
smile  of  anxious  inquiry  on  her  lips,  that  she  had  never 
appeared  more  lovely.  I  did  not  hesitate  about  pressing 
those  hands  with  fervour,  and  of  kissing  the  warm  though 
colourless  cheek.  All  this  passed  as  it  might  have  done 
between  an  affectionate  brother  and  sister,  neither  of  us 
thinking,  I  am  persuaded,  of  aught  but  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  childhood. 

"  This  is  kind  of  you,  dear  Lucy,"  I  said,  as  we  took  our 
seats  at  the  little  table ;  "  my  cousin  John  Wallingford, 
though  a  good  man  in  the  main,  is  scarcely  near  enough, 
or  dear  enough,  to  be  admitted  at  a  time  like  this." 

"  I  have  seen  him,"  Lucy  replied  —  the  tremour  in  her 
voice  showing  how  hard  she  found  it  to  avoid  melting  in 
tears,  "  and  rather  like  him.  I  believe  he  was  a  favourite 
with  mamma  Wallingford,"  so  Lucy  was  accustomed  to  call 
my  mother,  "  and  that  ought  to  be  a  high  recommendation 
with  us,  Miles." 

"  I  am  disposed  to  like  him,  and  shall  endeavour  to  keep 
up  more  intercourse  with  him  than  I  have  hitherto  done.  It 
is  as  we  begin  to  find  ourselves  alone  in  the  world,  Lucy, 
that  we  first  feel  the  necessity  of  counting  blood  and  kin, 
and  of  looking  around  us  for  support." 

"  Alone  you  are  not,  Miles,  and  never  can  be  while  I  and 
my  dear  father  live.  We  are  certainly  nearer  to  you  than 
any  that  now  remain  among  your  blood  relatives  !  You  can 
neither  suffer  nor  be  happy  without  our  partaking  in  the 
feelings." 

This  was  not  said  without  an  effort ;  that  much  I  could 
detect;  yet  it  was  said  firmly,  and  in  a  way  that  left  no 
doubt  of  its  entire  sincerity.  I  even  wished  there  had  been 
less  of  nature  and  more  of  hesitation  in  the  dear  girl's 


MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

manner  while  she  was  endeavouring  to  assure  me  of  the 
sympathy  she  felt  in  my  happiness  or  unhappiness.  But  the 
waywardness  of  a  passion  as  tormenting,  and  yet  as  delight 
ful  as  love,  seldom  leaves  us  just  or  reasonable. 

Lucy  and  I  then  talked  of  the  approaching  ceremony. 
Each  of  us  was  grave  and  sorrowful,  but  neither  indulged 
in  any  outward  signs  of  grief.  We  knew  the  last  sad  offices 
were  to  be  performed,  and  had  braced  ourselves  to  the  dis 
charge  of  this  melancholy  duty.  It  was  not  customary  with 
the  females  of  purely  New  York  families  of  the  class  of  the 
Hardinges,  to  be  present  at  the  performance  of  the  funeral 
rites  ;  but  Lucy  told  me  she  intended  to  be  in  the  little  church, 
and  to  share  in  as  much  of  the  religious  offices  as  were  per 
formed  within  the  building.  In  a  population  as  mixed  as 
ours  has  become,  it  is  not  easy  to  say  what  is  and  what  is 
not  now  a  national  or  state  usage,  on  such  an  occasion  ;  but 
I  knew  this  was  going  farther  than  was  usual  for  one  of 
Lucy's  habits  and  opinions,  and  I  expressed  a  little  surprise 
at  her  determination. 

"  Were  it  at  any  other  funeral,  I  would  not  be  present, 
Miles,"  she  said,  the  tremour  of  her  voice  sensibly  increas 
ing  ;  "  but  I  cannot  divest  myself  of  the  idea  that  the  spirit 
of  Grace  will  be  hovering  near ;  that  the  presence  of  her 
more  than  sister  will  be  acceptable.  Whatever  the  Provi 
dence  of  God  may  have  ordered  for  the  dear  departed,  I 
know  it  will  be  grateful  to  myself  to  join  in  the  prayers  of 
the  church — besides,!  am  not  altogether  without  the  womanly 
feeling  of  wishing  to  watch  over  the  form  of  Grace  while  it 
remains  above  ground.  And  now,  Miles,  brother,  friend, 
Grace's  brother,  or  by  whatever  endearing  term  I  may  ad 
dress  you,"  added  Lucy,  rising,  coming  to  my  side  of  the 
table,  and  taking  my  hand,  "  I  have  one  thing  to  say  that  I 
alone  can  say,  for  it  would  never  suggest  itself  as  necessary 
to  my  dear  father." 

I  looked  earnestly  at  Lucy's  sweet  countenance,  and  saw 
it  was  full  of  concern —  I  had  almost  said  of  alarm. 

"  I  believe  I  understand  you,  Lucy,"  I  answered,  though 
a  sensation  at  the  throat  nearly  choked  me  — "  Rupert  is 
here?" 

"  He  is,  Miles ;  I  implore  you  to  remember  what  would 
be  the  wishes  of  her  who  is  now  a  saint  in  heaven  —  what 


124  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

her  entreaties,  her  tears  would  implore  of  you,  had  not  God 
placed  a  barrier  between  us." 

*' I  understand  you,  Lucy"  —  was  the  husky  reply  —  "I 
do  remember  all  you  wish,  though  that  recollection  is  un 
necessary.  I  would  rather  not  see  him;  but  never  can  J 
forget  that  he  is  your  brother !" 

"  You  will  see  as  little  of  him  as  possible,  Miles  —  bless 
you,  bless  you,  for  this  forbearance !" 

I  felt  Lucy's  hasty  but  warm  kiss  on  my  forehead  as  she 
quitted  the  room.  It  seemed  to  me  a  seal  of  a  compact  be 
tween  us  that  was  far  too  sacred  ever  to  allow  me  to  dream 
of  violating  it. 

I  pass  over  the  details  of  the  funeral  procession.  This 
last  was  ordered  as  is  usual  in  the  country,  the  friends  fol 
lowing  the  body  in  vehicles  or  on  horseback,  according  to 
circumstances.  John  Wallingford  went  with  me  agreeably 
to  my  own  arrangement,  and  the  rest  took  their  places  in 
the  order  of  consanguinity  and  age.  I  did  not  see  Rupert 
in  the  procession  at  all,  though  I  saw  little  beside  the  hearse 
that  bore  the  body  of  my  only  sister.  When  we  reached  the 
church-yard,  the  blacks  of  the  family  pressed  forward  to 
bear  the  coffin  into  the  building.  Mr.  Hardinge  met  us  there, 
and  then  commenced  those  beautiful  and  solemn  rites  which 
seldom  fail  to  touch  the  hardest  heart.  The  rector  of  St. 
Michael's  had  the  great  excellence  of  reading  all  the  offices 
of  the  church  as  if  he  felt  them ;  and,  on  this  occasion,  the 
deepest  feelings  of  the  heart  seemed  to  be  thrown  into  his 
accents.  I  wondered  how  he  could  get  on  ;  but  Mr.  Hardinge 
felt  himself  a  servant  of  the  altar,  standing  in  his  master's 
house,  and  ready  to  submit  to  his  will.  Under  such  circum 
stances  it  was  not  a  trifle  that  could  unman  him.  The  spirit 
of  the  divine  communicated  itself  to  me.  I  did  not  shed  a 
tear  during  the  whole  of  the  ceremony,  but  felt  myself  sus 
tained  by  the  thoughts  and  holy  hopes  that  ceremony  was 
adapted  to  inspire.  I  believe  Lucy,  who  sat  in  a  far  corner 
of  the  church,  was  sustained  in  a  similar  manner ;  for  I 
heard  her  low  sweet  voice  mingling  in  the  responses.  Li{. 
service !  Let  those  who  would  substitute  their  own  crude 
impulses  for  the  sublime  rites  of  our  liturgy,  making  ill- 
digested  forms  the  supplanter  of  a  ritual  carefully  and  de 
voutly  prepared,  listen  to  one  of  their  own  serai-conversa- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  125 

tional  addresses  to  the  Almighty  over  a  grave,  and  then 
hearken  to  these  venerable  rites,  and  learn  humility.  Such 
men  never  approach  sublimity,  or  the  sacred  character  that 
should  be  impressed  on  a  funeral  ceremony,  except  when 
they  borrow  a  fragment  here  and  there  from  the  very  ritual 
they  affect  to  condemn.  In  their  eagerness  to  dissent,  they 
have  been  guilty  of  the  weakness  of  dissenting,  so  far  as 
forms  are  concerned,  from  some  of  the  loftiest,  most  com 
prehensive,  most  consolatory  and  most  instructive  passages 
of  the  inspired  book ! 

It  was  a  terrible  moment  when  the  first  clod  of  the  valley 
fell  on  my  sister's  coffin.  God  sustained  me  under  the 
shock!  I  neither  groaned  nor  wept.  When  Mr.  Hardinge 
returned  the  customary  thanks  to  those  who  had  assembled 
to  assist  me  "  in  burying  my  dead  out  of  my  sight,"  I  had 
even  sufficient  fortitude  to  bow  to  the  little  crowd,  and  to 
walk  steadily  away.  It  is  true,  that  John  Wallingford  very 
kindly  took  my  arm  to  sustain  me,  but  I  was  not  conscious 
of  wanting  any  support.  I  heard  the  sobs  of  the  blacks  as 
they  crowded  around  the  grave,  which  the  men  among  them 
insisted  on  filling  with  their  own  hands,  as  if  "  Miss  Grace" 
could  only  rest  with  their  administration  to  her  wants ;  and 
I  was  told  not  one  of  them  left  the  spot  until  the  place  had 
resumed  all  the  appearance  of  freshness  and  verdure  which 
it  possessed  before  the  spade  had  been  applied.  The  same 
roses,  removed  with  care,  were  restored  to  their  former 
beds ;  and  it  would  not  have  been  easy  for  a  stranger  to 
discover  that  a  new-made  grave  lay  by  the  side  of  those  of 
the  late  Captain  Miles  Wallingford  and  his  much-respected 
widow.  Still  it  was  known  to  all  in  that  vicinity,  and  many 
a  pilgrimage  was  made  to  the  spot  within  the  next  fortnight, 
the  young  maidens  of  the  adjoining  farms  in  particular 
coming  to  visit  the  grave  of  Grace  Wallingford,  the  "  Lily 
of  Clawbonny,"  as  she  had  once  been  styled. 


11 


126  MILES     WALLINGFORD 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  I  knew  tliat  we  must  part — no  power  could  Bare 
Thy  quiet  goodness  from  an  early  grave  : 
Those  eyes  so  dull,  though  kind  each  glance  they  cant, 
Looking  a  sister's  fondness  to  the  last ; 
Thy  lips  so  pale,  that  gently  press'd  my  cheek ; 
Thy  voice — alas  !  Thou  could  st  but  try  to  speak ; — 
All  told  thy  doom ;  I  felt  it  at  my  heart ; 
The  shaft  had  struck — I  knew  that  we  must  part." 

SPRAGUE. 

IT  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  sensation  of  loss  that  came 
over  me  after  the  interment  of  my  sister.  It  is  then  we 
completely  feel  the  privation  with  which  we  have  met.  Tho 
body  is  removed  from  out  of  our  sight ;  the  places  that 
knew  them  shall  know  them  no  more ;  there  is  an  end  to 
all  communion,  even  by  the  agency  of  sight,  the  last  of  the 
senses  to  lose  its  hold  on  the  departed,  and  a  void  exists  in 
the  place  once  occupied.  I  felt  all  this  very  keenly,  for  more 
than  a  month,  but  most  keenly  during  the  short  time  I 
remained  at  Clawbonny.  The  task  before  me,  however, 
will  not  allow  me  to  dwell  on  these  proofs  of  sorrow,  nor  do 
I  know  that  the  reader  could  derive  much  advantage  from 
their  exhibition. 

I  did  not  see  Rupert  at  the  funeral.  That  he  was  there 
I  knew,  but  either  he,  himself,  or  Lucy  for  him,  had  man 
aged  so  well,  as  not  to  obtrude  his  person  on  my  sight. 
John  Wallingford,  who  well  knew  my  external  or  visible 
relation  to  all  the  Hardinges,  thinking  to  do  me  a  pleasure, 
mentioned,  as  the  little  procession  returned  to  the  house, 
that  young  Mr.  Hardinge  had,  by  dint  of  great  activity, 
succeeded  in  reaching  Clawbonny  in  time  for  the  funeral. 
I  fancy  that  Lucy,  under  the  pretence  of  wishing  his  escort, 
contrived  to  keep  her  brother  at  the  rectory  during  the  time 
I  was  abroad. 

On  reaching  the  house,  I  saw  all  my  connexions,  and 
thanked  them  in  person  for  this  proof  of  their  respect  for 
the  deceased.  This  little  duty  performed,  all  but  John  Wal 
lingford  took  their  leave,  and  I  was  soon  left  in  the  place 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  127 

alone  with  my  bachelor  cousin.  What  a  house  it  was! 
and  what  a  house  it  continued  to  be  as  long  as  I  remained 
at  Clawbonny !  The  servants  moved  about  it  stealthily ; 
the  merry  laugh  was  no  longer  heard  in  the  kitchen ;  even 
the  heavy-footed  seemed  to  tread  on  air,  and  all  around  me 
appeared  to  be  afraid  of  disturbing  the  slumbers  of  the 
dead.  Never  before,  nor  since,  have  I  had  occasion  to  feel 
how  completely  a  negative  may  assume  an  affirmative  cha 
racter,  and  become  as  positive  as  if  it  had  a  real  existence. 
I  thought  I  could  see  as  well  as  feel  my  sister's  absence 
from  the  scene  in  which  she  had  once  been  so  conspicuous 
an  actor. 

As  none  of  the  Hardinges  returned  to  dinner,  the  good 
divine  writing  a  note  to  say  he  would  see  me  in  the  evening 
after  my  connexions  had  withdrawn,  John  Wallingfbrd  and 
myself  took  that  meal  tcte  a  tete.  My  cousin,  with  the  ap 
parent  motive  of  diverting  rny  thoughts  from  dwelling  on 
the  recent  scene,  began  to  converse  on  subjects  that  he  was 
right  in  supposing  might  interest  me.  Instead  of  flying  off 
to  some  topic  so  foreign  to  my  feelings  as  constantly  to 
recall  the  reason,  he  judiciously  connected  the  theme  with 
my  loss. 

"  I  suppose  you  will  go  to  sea  again,  as  soon  as  your 
ship  can  be  got  ready,  cousin  Miles,"  he  commenced,  after 
we  were  left  with  the  fruit  and  wine.  *'  These  are  stirring 
times  in  commerce,  and  the  idle  man  misses  golden  oppor 
tunities." 

"  Gold  has  no  longer  any  charm  for  me,  cousin  John,"  I 
answered  gloomily.  "  I  am  richer  now  than  is  necessary 
for  my  wants,  and,  as  I  shall  probably  never  marry,  I  see 
no  great  use  in  toiling  for  more.  Still,  I  shall  go  out  in  my 
own  ship,  and  that  as  soon  as  possible.  Here  I  would  not 
pass  the  summer  for  the  place,  and  I  love  the  sea.  Yes, 
yes  ;  I  must  make  a  voyage  to  some  part  of  Europe  without 
delay.  It  is  the  wisest  thing  I  can  do." 

"  That  is  hearty,  and  like  a  man  !  There  is  none  of  your 
mopes  about  the  Wallingfords,  and  I  believe  you  to  be  of 
the  true  stock.  But  why  never  marry,  Miles?  Your  father 
was  a  sailor,  and  he  married,  and  a  very  good  time  I've 
always  understood  he  had  of  it." 

"  My  father  was  happy  as  a  husband,  and,  did  I  imitate 


128  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

his  example,  I  should  certainly  marry,  too.  Nevertheless, 
I  feel  I  am  to  be  a  bachelor." 

"In  that  case,  what  will  become  of  Clawbonny?"  de- 
manded  Jack  Wallingford,  bluntly. 

I  could  not  avoid  smiling  at  the  question,  as  I  deemed  him 
my  heir,  though  the  law  would  give  it  to  nearer  relatives, 
who  were  not  of  the  name ;  but  it  is  probable  that  John, 
knowing  himself  to  be  so  much  my  senior,  had  never  thought 
of  himself  as  one  likely  to  outlive  me. 

"  I  shall  make  a  new  will,  the  instant  I  get  to  town,  and 
leave  Clawbonny  to  you,"  I  answered  steadily,  and  truly, 
for  such  a  thought  had  come  into  my  mind  the  instant  I  saw 
him.  "  You  are  the  person  best  entitled  to  inherit  it,  and 
should  you  survive  me,  yours  it  shall  be." 

"  Miles,  I  like  that,"  exclaimed  my  cousin,  with  a  strange 
sincerity,  stretching  out  a  hand  to  receive  mine,  which  he 
pressed  most  warmly.  "  You  are  very  right ;  I  ought  to 
be  the  heir  of  this  place,  should  you  die  without  children, 
even  though  you  left  a  widow." 

This  was  said  so  naturally,  and  was  so  much  in  con 
formity  with  my  own  notions  on  the  subject,  that  it  did  not 
so  much  offend,  as  surprise  me.  I  knew  John  Wallingford 
loved  money,  and,  all  men  having  a  very  respectful  attach 
ment  to  the  representative  of  value,  such  a  character  inva 
riably  means,  that  the  party  named  suffers  that  attachment 
to  carry  him  too  far.  I  wished,  therefore,  my  kinsman  had 
not  made  just  such  a  speech ;  though  it  in  no  manner 
shook  my  intentions  in  his  favour. 

"  You  are  more  ready  to  advise  your  friends  to  get  mar 
ried,  than  to  set  the  example,"  I  answered,  willing  to  divert 
the  discourse  a  little.  "  You,  who  must  be  turned  of  fifty, 
are  still  a  bachelor." 

"  And  so  shall  I  remain  through  life.  There  was  a  time 
I  might  have  married,  had  I  been  rich ;  and  now  I  am  rea 
sonably  rich,  I  find  other  things  to  employ  my  affections. 
Still,  that  is  no  reason  you  should  not  leave  me  Clawbonny, 
though  it  is  not  probable  I  shall  ever  live  to  inherit  it.  Not 
withstanding,  it  is  family  property,  and  ought  not  to  go  out 
of  the  name.  I  was  afraid,  if  you  were  lost  at  sea,  or  should 
die  of  any  of  those  outlandish  fevers  that  sailors  sometimes 
take,  the  place  would  get  into  females,  and  there  would  no 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  129 

longer  be  a  Wallingford  at  Clawbonny.  Miles,  I  do  not 
grudge  you  the  possession  of  the  property  the  least  in  the 
world ;  but  it  would  make  me  very  unhappy  to  know  one 
of  those  Hazens,  or  Morgans,  or  Van-der-Schamps  had 
it."  Jack  had  mentioned  the  names  of  the  children  of  so 
many  Miss  Wallingfords,  aunts  or  great-aunts,  of  mine, 
and  cousins  of  his  own. — "  Some  of  them  may  be  nearer 
to  you,  by  a  half-degree,  or  so,  but  none  of  them  are  as  near 
to  Clawbonny.  It  is  Wallingford  land,  and  Wallingford 
land  it  ought  to  remain." 

I  was  amused  in  spite  of  myself,  and  felt  a  disposition, 
now,  to  push  the  discourse  further,  in  order  better  to  under 
stand  my  kinsman's  character. 

"  Should  neither  of  us  two  marry,"  I  said,  "  and  both  die 
bachelors,  what  would  then  be  the  fate  of  Clawbonny  ?" 

"  I  have  thought  of  all  that,  Miles,  and  here  is  my  an 
swer  :  Should  such  a  thing  happen,  and  there  be  no  other 
Wallingford  left,  then  no  Walliugford  would  live  to  have 
his  feelings  hurt  by  knowing  that  a  Vander-dunder-Schamp, 
or  whatever  these  Dutchmen  ought  to  be  called,  is  living  in 
his  father's  house;  and  no  harm  would  be  done.  But,  there 
are  Wallingfords  besides  you  and  me." 

"  This  is  quite  new ;  for  I  had  supposed  we  two  were  the 
last." 

"  Not  so :  Miles  the  first  left  two  sons  ;  our  ancestor, 
the  eldest,  and  one  younger,  who  removed  into  the  colony 
of  New  Jersey,  and  whose  descendants  still  exist.  The 
survivors  of  us  two  might  go  there  in  quest  of  our  heir,  in 
the  long  run.  But  do  not  forget  I  come  before  these  Jersey 
Blues,  let  them  be  who,  or  what  they  may." 

I  assured  my  kinsman  he  should  come  before  them,  and 
changed  the  discourse ;  for,  to  own  the  truth,  the  manner  in 
which  he  spoke  began  to  displease  me.  Making  my  apolo 
gies,  I  retired  to  my  own  room,  while  John  Wallingford  went 
out,  professedly  with  the  intention  of  riding  over  the  placo 
of  his  ancestors,  with  a  view  to  give  it  a  more  critical  ex 
amination  than  it  had  hitherto  been  in  his  power  to  do. 

It  was  quite  dark,  when  I  heard  the  arrival  of  the  Har- 
dinges,  as  the  carriage  of  Lucy  drove  up  to  the  door.  In 
a  few  minutes  Mr.  Hardinge  entered  the  study.  He  first 
inquired  after  my  health,  and  manifested  the  kind  interest 


130  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

he  had  ever  taken  in  my  feelings ;  after  which,  he  proceed* 
ed: 

"  Rupert  is  here,"  he  said,  "  and  I  have  brought  him  over 
to  see  you.  Both  he  and  Lucy  appeared  to  think  it  might 
be  well  not  to  disturb  you  to-night ;  but  I  knew  you  better. 
Who  should  be  at  your  side  at  this  bitter  moment,  my  dear 
Miles,  if  it  be  not  Rupert,  your  old  friend  and  play-mate  ; 
your  fellow  truant,  as  one  might  say,  and  almost  your 
brother?" 

Almost  my  brother  !  Still  I  commanded  myself.  Grace 
had  received  my  solemn  assurances,  and  so  had  Lucy,  and 
Rupert  had  nothing  to  apprehend.  I  even  asked  to  see  him, 
desiring,  at  the  same  time,  that  it  might  be  alone.  I  waited 
several  minutes  for  Rupert's  appearance,  in  vain.  At  length 
the  door  of  my  room  opened,  and  Chloe  brought  me  a  note. 
It  was  from  Lucy,  and  contained  only  these  words — "Miles, 
for  her  sake,  for  mine,  command  yourself."  Dear  creature  ! 
She  had  no  reason  to  be  alarmed.  The  spirit  of  my  sister 
seemed  to  me  to  be  present ;  and  I  could  recall  every  ex 
pression  of  her  angel-countenance  as  it  had  passed  before 
my  eyes  in  the  different  interviews  that  preceded  her  death. 

At  length  Rupert  appeared.  He  had  been  detained  by 
Lucy  until  certain  her  note  was  received,  when  she  permit 
ted  him  to  quit  her  side.  His  manner  was  full  of  the  con 
sciousness  of  undeserving,  and  its  humility  aided  my  good 
resolutions.  Had  he  advanced  to  take  my  hand ;  had  he 
attempted  consolation  ;  had  he,  in  short,  behaved  differently 
in  the  main  from  what  he  actually  did,  I  cannot  say  what 
might  have  been  the  consequences.  But  his  deportment,  at 
first,  was  quiet,  respectful,  distant  rather  than  familiar,  and 
he  had  the  tact,  or  grace,  or  caution,  not  to  make  the  smallest 
allusion  to  the  sad  occasion  which  had  brought  him  to  Claw- 
bonny.  When  I  asked  him  to  be  seated,  he  declined  the 
chair  I  offered,  a  sign  he  intended  the  visit  to  be  short.  I 
was  not  sorry,  and  determined,  at  once,  to  make  the  inter 
view  as  much  one  of  business  as  possible.  I  had  a  sacred 
duty  confided  to  me,  and  this  might  be  as  fit  an  occasion  as 
could  offer  in  which  to  acquit  myself  of  the  trust. 

"  I  am  glad  so  early  an  opportunity  has  offered,  Mr.  Har- 
dinge,"  I  said,  as  soon  as  the  opening  civilities  were  over, 
"  to  acquaint  you  with  an  affair  that  has  been  entrusted  to 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  131 

me  by  Grace,  and  which  I  am  anxious  to  dispose  of  as  soon 
as  possible." 

"  By  Grase — by  Miss  Wallingford  1"  exclaimed  Rupert, 
actually  recoiling  a  step  in  surprise,  if  not  absolutely  in  alarm 
— "  I  shall  feel  honoured — that  is,  shall  have  a  melancholy 
gratification  in  endeavouring  to  execute  any  of  her  wishes. 
No  person  commanded  more  of  my  respect,  Mr.  Walling 
ford,  and  I  shall  always  consider  her  one  of  the  most  amia 
ble  and  admirable  women  with  whom  it  was  ever  my  happy 
fortune  to  be  acquainted." 

I  had  no  difficulty  now  in  commanding  myself,  for  it  was 
easy  to  see  Rupert  scarce  knew  what  he  said.  With  such 
a  man  I  saw  no  great  necessity  for  using  extraordinary  de 
licacy  or  much  reserve. 

"  You  are  doubtless  aware  of  two  things  in  our  family 
history,"  I  continued,  therefore,  without  circumlocution : 
"  one  that  my  sister  would  have  been  mistress  of  a  small 
fortune,  had  she  reached  the  term  of  twenty-one  years,  and 
the  other  that  she  died  at  twenty." 

Rupert's  surprise  was  now  more  natural,  and  I  could  see 
that  his  interest — shame  on  our  propensities  for  it! — was  very 
natural,  too, 

"  I  am  aware  of  both,  and  deeply  deplore  the  last,"  he 
answered, 

"  Being  a  minor,  she  had  it  not  in  her  power  to  make  a 
will,  but  her  requests  are  legal  legacies  in  my  eyes,  and  I 
stand  pledged  to  her  to  see  them  executed.  She  has  left 
rather  less  than  $22,000  in  all ;  with  $500  of  this  money 
I  am  to  present  Lucy  with  some  suitable  memorial  of  her 
departed  friend  ;  some  small  charitable  dispositions  are  also 
to  be  made,  and  the  balance,  or  the  round  sum  of  $20,000, 
is  to  be  given  to  you." 

"  To  me,  Mr.  Wallingford  ! — Miles  !— Did  you  really  say 
to  me  ?" 

"  To  you,  Mr.  Hardinge, — such,  is  my  sister's  earnest 
request — and  this  letter  will  declare  it,  as  from  herself.  I 
was  to  hand  you  this  letter,  when  acquainting  you  with  the 
bequest."  I  put  Grace's  letter  into  Rupert's  hand,  as  I 
concluded,  and  I  sat  down  to  write,  while  he  was  reading  it. 
Though  employed  at  a  desk  for  a  minute  or  two,  I  could 
not  avoid  glancing  at  Rupert,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  effect 


132  MILES     WALLINGFORB. 

of  the  last  words  of  her  he  had  once  professed  to  love,  } 
would  wish  not  to  be  unjust  even  to  Rupert  Hardinge.  He 
was  dreadfully  agitated,  and  he  walked  the  room,  for  some 
little  time,  without  speaking.  I  even  fancied  I  overheard 
a  half-suppressed  groan.  I  had  the  compassion  to  affect 
to  be  engaged,  in  order  to  allow  him  to  recover  his  self-pos 
session.  This  was  soon  done,  as  good  impressions  were 
not  lasting  in  Rupert ;  and  I  knew  him  so  well,  as  soon  to 
read  in  his  countenance,  gleanings  of  satisfaction  at  the 
prospect  of  being  master  of  so  large  a  sum.  At  the  proper 
moment,  I  arose  and  resumed  the  subject. 

"  My  sister's  wishes  would  be  sacred  with  me,"  I  said, 
even  had  she  not  received  my  promise  to  see  them  executed. 
"When  a  thing  of  this  character  is  to  be  done,  the  sooner  it 
is  done  the  better.  I  have  drawn  a  note  at  ten  days,  pay 
able  at  the  Bank  of  New  York,  and  in  your  favour,  foi 
$20,000 :  it  will  not  inconvenience  me  to  pay  it  when  due, 
and  that  will  close  the  transaction." 

"  I  am  not  certain,  Wallingford,  that  I  ought  to  receive 
so  large  a  sum — I  do  not  know  that  my  father,  or  Lucy 
or  indeed  the  world,  would  altogether  approve  of  it." 

"  Neither  your  father,  nor  Lucy,  nor  the  world  will  knov« 
anything  about  it,  sir,  unless  you  see  fit  to  acquaint  them 
1  shall  not  speak  of  the  bequest ;  and  I  confess  that,  on 
my  sister's  account,  I  should  prefer  that  you  would  not." 

"  Well,  Mr.  Hardinge,"  answered  Rupert,  coolly  putting 
the  note  into  his  wallet,  "  I  will  think  of  this  request  of 
poor  Grace's,  and  if  I  can  possibly  comply  with  her  wishes, 
I  will  certainly  do  so.  There  is  little  that  she  could  ask 
that  I  would  deny,  and  my  effort  will  be  to  honour  her  me 
mory.  As  I  see  you  are  distressed,  I  will  now  retire ;  you 
shall  know  my  determination  in  a  few  days." 

Rupert  did  retire,  taking  my  note  for  $20,000  with  him. 
I  made  no  effort  to  detain  him,  nor  was  I  sorry  to  hear  he 
had  returned  to  the  rectory  to  pass  the  night,  whither  his 
sister  went  with  him.  The  next  day  he  proceeded  to  New 
York,  without  sending  me  any  message,  retaining  the  note 
however ;  and,  a  day  or  two  later,  I  heard  of  him  on  his 
way  to  the  springs  to  rejoin  the  party  of  the  Mertons. 

John  Wallingford  left  me  the  morning  of  the  day  after 
the  funeral,  promising  to  see  me  again  in  town.  "  Do  no 


MILES      WALLINGFORD.  133 

forget  the  will,  Miles,"  said  that  singular  man,  as  he  shook 
my  hand,  "  and  be  certain  to  let  me  see  that  provision  in  it 
about  Clawbonny,  before  I  go  west  of  the  bridge,  again. 
Between  relations  of  the  same  name,  there  should  be  no 
reserves  in  such  matters." 

I  scarce  knew  whether  to  smile  or  to  look  grave,  at  so 
strange  a  request ;  but  I  did  not  change  my  determination 
on  the  subject  of  the  will,  itself:  feeling  that  justice  required 
of  me  such  a  disposition  of  the  property.  I  confess  there 
were  moments  when  I  distrusted  the  character  of  one  who 
could  urge  a  claim  of  this  nature  in  so  plain  a  manner;  and 
that,  too,  at  an  instant  when  the  contemplated  contingency 
seemed  the  more  probable  from  the  circumstance  that  death 
had  so  recently  been  among  us.  Notwithstanding,  there 
was  so  much  frankness  in  my  kinsman's  manner,  he  ap 
peared  to  sympathize  so  sincerely  in  my  loss,  and  his 
opinions  were  so  similar  to  my  own,  that  these  unpleasant 
twinges  lasted  but  for  brief  intervals.  On  the  whole,  my 
opinion  was  very  favourable  to  John  Wallingford,  and,  as 
will  be  seen  in  the  sequel,  he  soon  obtained  my  entire  confi 
dence. 

After  the  departure  of  all  my  kindred,  I  felt,  indeed,  how 
completely  I  was  left  alone  in  the  world.  Lucy  passed  the 
night  at  the  rectory,  to  keep  her  brother  company,  and  good 
Mr.  Hardinge,  though  thinking  he  remained  with  me  to  offer 
sympathy  and  consolation,  found  so  many  demands  on  his 
time,  that  I  saw  but  little  of  him.  It  is  possible  he  under 
stood  me  sufficiently  well  to  know  that  solitude  and  reflec 
tion,  while  the  appearance  of  the  first  was  avoided,  were 
better  for  one  of  my  temperament  than  any  set  forms  of 
condolence.  At  any  rate,  he  was  at  hand,  while  he  said 
but  little  to  mo  on  the  subject  of  my  loss. 

At  last  I  got  through  the  day;  and  a  long  and  dreary  day 
it  was  to  me.  The  evening  came,  bland,  refreshing,  bring 
ing  with  it  the  softer  light  of  a  young  moon.  I  was  walking 
on  the  lawn,  when  the  beauty  of  the  night  brought  Grace 
and  her  tastes  vividly  to  my  mind,  and,  by  a  sudden  impulse, 
I  was  soon  swiftly  walking  towards  her  now  silent  grave. 
The  highways  around  Clawbonny  were  never  much  fre 
quented;  but  at  this  hour,  and  so  soon  after  the  solemn  pro 
cession  it  had  so  lately  seen,  no  one  was  met  on  the  road 
12 


134:  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

towards  the  church-yard.  It  was  months,  indeed,  after  tho 
funeral,  that  any  of  the  slaves  ventured  into  the  latter  by 
night;  and,  even  during  the  day,  they  approached  it  with 
an  awe  that  nothing  could  have  inspired  but  the  death  of  a 
Wallingford.  Perhaps  it  was  owing  to  my  increased  age 
and  greater  observation,  but  I  fancied  that  these  simple 
beings  felt  the  death  of  their  young  mistress  more  than  they 
had  felt  that  of  my  mother. 

St.  Michael's  church-yard  is  beautifully  ornamented  with 
flourishing  cedars.  These  trees  had  been  cultivated  with 
care,  and  formed  an  appropriate  ornament  for  the  place. 
A  fine  cluster  of  them  shaded  the  graves  of  my  family,  and 
a  rustic  seat  had  been  placed  beneath  their  branches,  by 
order  of  my  mother,  who  had  been  in  the  habit  of  passing 
hours  in  meditation  at  the  grave  of  her  husband.  Grace 
and  I,  and  Lucy,  had  often  repaired  to  the  same  place  at 
night,  after  my  mother's  death,  and  there  we  used  10  sit 
many  an  hour,  in  deep  silence ;  or,  if  utterance  were  given 
to  a  thought,  it  was  in  a  respectful  whisper.  As  I  now 
approached  this  seat,  I  had  a  bitter  satisfaction  in  remem 
bering  that  Rupert  had  never  accompanied  us  in  these  pious 
little  pilgrimages.  Even  in  the  day  of  her  greatest  ascen 
dancy,  Grace  had  been  unable  to  enlist  her  admirer  in  an 
act  so  repugnant  to  his  innate  character.  As  for  Lucy,  her 
own  family  lay  on  one  side  of  that  cluster  of  cedars,  as  mine 
lay  on  the  other ;  and  often  had  I  seen  the  dear  young  crea 
ture  weeping,  as  her  eyes  were  riveted  on  the  graves  of 
relatives  she  had  never  known.  But  my  mother  had  been 
her  mother,  and  for  this  friend  she  felt  an  attachment  almost 
as  strong  as  that  which  was  entertained  by  ourselves.  I  am 
not  certain  I  ought  not  to  say,  an  attachment  quite  as  strong 
as  our  own. 

I  was  apprehensive  some  visitors  might  be  hovering  near 
the  grave  of  my  sister  at  that  witching  hour,  and  I  ap 
proached  the  cedars  cautiously,  intending  to  retire  unseen 
should  such  prove  to  be  the  case.  I  saw  no  one,  however, 
and  proceeded  directly  to  the  line  of  graves,  placing  myself 
at  the  foot  of  the  freshest  and  most  newly  made.  Hardly 
was  this  done,  when  I  heard  the  word  "  Miles !"  uttered  in 
a  low,  half-stifled  exclamation.  It  was  not  easy  for  me  to 
mistake  the  voice  of  Lucy ;  she  was  seated  so  near  the 


MILES    WALLINGPORD.  135 

trunk  of  a  cedar  that  her  dark  dress  had  been  confounded 
with  the  shadows  of  the  tree.  I  went  to  the  spot,  and  took 
a  seat  at  her  side. 

"  I  am  not  surprised  to  find  you  here,"  I  said,  taking  the 
dear  girl's  hand,  by  a  sort  of  mechanical  mode  of  mani 
festing  affection  which  had  grown  up  between  us  from  child 
hood,  rather  than  from  any  sudden  impulse — "you  that 
watched  over  her  so  faithfully  during  the  last  hours  of  her 
existence." 

"  Ah !  Miles,"  returned  a  voice  that  was  filled  with  sad 
ness,  "  how  little  did  I  anticipate  this  when  you  spoke  of 
Grace  in  the  brief  interview  we  had  at  the  theatre !" 

I  understood  my  companion  fully.  Lucy  had  been  edu 
cated  superior  to  cant  and  false  morals.  Her  father  drew 
accurate  and  manly  distinctions  between  sin  and  the  exac 
tions  of  a  puritanical  presumption  that  would  set  up  its  own 
narrow  notions  as  the  law  of  God ;  and,  innocent  as  she 
was,  no  thought  of  error  was  associated  with  the  indulgence 
of  her  innocent  pleasures.  But  Grace,  suffering  and  in 
sorrow,  while  she  herself  had  been  listening  to  the  wonder 
ful  poems  of  Shakspeare,  did  present  a  painful  picture  to 
her  mind,  which,  so  far  from  being  satisfied  with  what  she 
had  done  in  my  sister's  behalf,  was  tenderly  reproachful  on 
account  of  fancied  omissions. 

"  It  is  the  will  of  God,  Lucy,"  I  answered.  "  It  must  be 
our  effort  to  be  resigned." 

"  If  you  can  think  thus,  Miles,  how  much  easier  ought  it 
to  be  for  me !  and,  yet — " 

"  Yet,  what,  Lucy  ?  I  believe  you  loved  my  sister  as  af 
fectionately  as  I  did  myself,  but  I  am  sensitive  on  this  point ; 
and,  tender,  true,  warm  as  I  know  your  heart  to,  be,  I  can 
not  allow  that  even  you  loved  her  more." 

"  It  is  not  that,  Miles — it  is  not  that.  Have  I  no  cause 
of  particular  regret — no  sense  of  shame — no  feeling  of  deep 
humility  to  add  to  my  s;rief  for  her  loss  ?" 

"  I  understand  you,  Lucy,  and  at  once  answer,  no.  You 
are  not  Rupert  any  more  than  Rupert  is  you.  Let  all  others 
become  what  they  may,  you  will  ever  remain  Lucy  Har- 
dinge." 

"  I  thank  you,  Miles,"  answered  my  companion,  gently 
pressing  the  hand  that  still  retained  hers,  "  and  thank  you 


136  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

from  my  heart.  But  your  generous  nature  will  not  see  this 
matter  as  others  might.  We  were  aliens  to  your  blood, 
dwellers  under  your  own  roof,  received  into  the  bosom  of 
your  own  family,  and  were  bound  by  every  sacred  obliga 
tion  to  do  you  no  wrong.  I  would  not  have  my  dear,  up 
right  father  know  the  truth  for  worlds." 

"  He  never  will  know  it,  Lucy,  and  it  is  my  earnest  de 
sire  that  we  all  forget  it.  Henceforth  Rupert  and  I  must  be 
strangers,  though  the  tie  that  exists  between  me  and  the  rest 
of  your  family  will  only  be  drawn  the  closer  for  this  sad 
event." 

"  Rupert  is  my  brother — "  Lucy  answered,  though  it  was 
in  a  voice  so  low  that  her  words  were  barely  audible. 

"  You  would  not  leave  me  quite  alone  in  the  world  !"  I 
said,  with  something  like  reproachful  energy. 

"  No,  Miles,  no — that  tie,  as  you  have  said,  must  and 
should  last  for  life.  Nor  do  I  wish  you  to  regard  Rupert 
as  of  old.  It  is  impossible — improper  even — but  you  can 
concede  to  us  some  of  that  same  indulgence  which  I  am  so 
willing  to  concede  to  you." 

"  Certainly — Rupert  is  your  brother,  as  you  say,  and  I 
do  not  wish  you  ever  to  regard  him  otherwise.  He  will 
marry  Emily  Merton,  and  I  trust  he  may  be  happy.  Here, 
over  my  sister's  grave,  Lucy,  I  renew  the  pledge  already 
made  to  you,  never  to  act  on  what  has  occurred." 

I  got  no  answer  to  this  declaration  in  words,  but  Lucy 
would  actually  have  kissed  my  hand  in  gratitude  had  I  per 
mitted  it.  This  I  could  not  suffer,  however,  but  raised  her 
own  hand  to  my  lips,  where  it  was  held  until  the  dear  girl 
gently  withdrew  it  herself. 

"  Miles,"  Lucy  said,  after  a  long  and  thoughtful  pause, 
"  it  is  not  good  for  you  to  remain  at  Clawbonny,  just  at  this 
time.  Your  kinsman,  John  Wallingford,  has  been  here,  and 
I  think  you  like  him.  Why  not  pay  him  a  visit?  He  re 
sides  near  Niagara,  *  West  of  the  Bridge,'  as  he  calls  it,* 
and  you  might  take  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the  «  Falls.' " 

*  In  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  there  are  several 
small  lakes  that  lie  nearly  parallel  to  each  other,  and  not  far  asunder, 
with  lengths  that  vary  from  fifteen  to  forty  miles.  The  outlet  of  one 
of  these  lakes — the  Cayuga — lies  in  the  route  of  the  great  thorough- 
fare  to  Buffalo,  and  a  bridge  of  a  mile  in  length  was  early  thrown 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  137 

"  I  understand  you,  Lucy,  and  am  truly  grateful  for  tho 
interest  you  feel  in  my  happiness.  I  do  not  intend  to  remain 
long  at  Clawbonny,  which  I  shall  leave  to-morrow — " 

"  To-morrow !"  interrupted  Lucy,  and  I  thought  like  one 
who  was  alarmed. 

"  Does  that  appear  too  early  ?  I  feel  the  necessity  of 
occupation,  as  well  as  of  a  change  of  scene.  You  will 
remember  I  have  a  ship  and  interests,  of  moment  to  myself, 
to  care  for :  I  must  turn  my  face,  and  move  towards  tho 
east,  instead  of  towards  the  west." 

"  You  intend  then,  Miles,  to  pursue  this  profession  of 
yours !"  Lucy  said,  as  I  thought,  with  a  little  like  gentle 
regret  in  her  manner  and  tones. 

"  Certainly — what  better  can  I  do  ?  I  want  not  wealth, 
I  allow;  am  rich  enough  already  for  all  my  wants,  but  I 
have  need  of  occupation.  The  sea  is  to  my  liking,  I  am 
still  young,  and  can  afford  a  few  more  years  on  the  water. 
I  shall  never  marry — "  Lucy  started — "  and  having  now 
no  heir  nearer  than  John  Wallingford" — 

"  John  Wallingford  ! — you  have  cousins  much  nearer 
than  he !" 

"  That  is  true  ;  but  not  of  the  old  line.  It  was  Grace's 
wish  that  I  should  leave  our  cousin  John  the  Clawbonny 
property  at  least,  whatever  I  do  with  the  rest.  You  are  so 
rich  now  as  not  to  need  it,  Lucy ;  else  would  I  leave  every 
shilling  to  you." 

"  I  believe  you  would,  dear  Miles,"  answered  Lucy,  witl 
fervent  warmth  of  manner.  "  You  have  ever  been  all  that 
is  good  and  kind  to  me,  and  I  shall  never  forget  it." 

"  Talk  of  my  kindness  to  you,  Lucy,  when  you  parted 
with  every  cent  you  had  on  earth  to  give  me  the  gold  you 
possessed,  on  my  going  to  sea.  I  am  almost  sorry  you  are 
now  so  much  richer  than  myself,  else  would  I  certainly 
make  you  my  heir." 

"  We  will  not  talk  of  money  any  longer  in  this  sacred 
place,"  Lucy  answered  tremulously.  "  What  I  did  as  a 

across  it.  From  this  circumstance  has  arisen  the  expression  of  say. 
ing,  ""West  of  the  Bridge  ;"  meaning*  the  frontier  counties,  which 
include,  among-  other  districts,  that  which  is  also  known  as  the  u  Ge- 
nessee  Country." 

12* 


138  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

foolish  girl  you  will  forget ;  we  were  but  children  then. 
Miles." 

So  Lucy  did  not  wish  me  to  remember  certain  passages 
in  our  earlier  youth !  Doubtless  her  present  relations  to 
Andrew  Drewett  rendered  the  recollection  delicate,  if  not 
unpleasant.  I  thought  this  less  like  herself  than  was  her 
wont — Lucy,  who  was  usually  so  simple-minded,  so  affec 
tionate,  so  frank  and  so  true.  Nevertheless,  love  is  an  en 
grossing  sentiment,  as  I  could  feel  in  my  own  case,  and  it 
might  be  that  its  jealous  sensitiveness  took  the  alarm  at  even 
that  which  was  so  innocent  and  sincere.  The  effect  of  these 
considerations,  added  to  that  of  Lucy's  remark,  was  to 
change  the  discourse,  and  we  conversed  long,  in  melancholy 
sadness,  of  her  we  had  lost,  for  this  life,  altogether. 

"  We  may  live,  ourselves,  to  grow  old,  Miles,"  Lucy  ob 
served,  "  but  never  shall  we  cease  to  remember  Grace  as 
she  was,  and  to  love  her  memory,  as  we  loved  her  dear  self 
in  life.  There  has  not  been  an  hour  since  her  death,  that  I 
have  not  seen  her  sitting  at  my  side,  and  conversing  in  sis 
terly  confidence,  as  we  did  from  infancy  to  the  day  she 
ceased  to  live!" 

As  Lucy  said  this,  she  rose,  drew  her  shawl  around  her, 
and  held  out  her  hand  to  take  leave,  for  I  had  spoken  of  an 
intention  to  quit  Clawbonny  early  in  the  morning.  The 
tears  the  dear  girl  shed  might  have  been  altogether  owing 
to  our  previous  conversation,  or  I  might  have  had  a  share 
in  producing  them.  Lucy  used  to  weep  at  parting  from  me, 
as  well  as  Grace,  and  she  was  not  a  girl  to  change  with  the 
winds.  But  I  could  not  part  thus :  I  had  a  sort  of  feeling 
that  when  we  parted  this  time,  it  would  virtually  be  a  final 
separation,  as  the  wife  of  Andrew  Drewett  never  could  be 
exactly  that  which  Lucy  Hardinge  had  now  been  to  me  for 
near  twenty  years. 

"  I  will  not  say  farewell  now,  Lucy,"  I  observed.  "  Should 
you  not  come  to  town  before  I  sail,  I  will  return  to  Claw- 
bonny  to  take  leave  of  you.  God  only  knows  what  will 
become  of  me,  or  whither  I  shall  be  led,  and  I  could  wish 
to  defer  the  leave-takings  to  the  last  moment.  You  and 
your  excellent  father  must  have  my  final  adieus." 

Lucy  returned  the  pressure  of  my  hand,  uttered  a  hasty 
good-night,  and  glided  through  the  little  gate  of  the  rectory, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  139 

which  by  this  time  we  had  reached.  No  doubt  she  fancied 
I  returned  immediately  to  my  own  house.  So  far  from 
this,  however,  I  passed  hours  alone,  in  the  church-yard, 
sometimes  musing  on  the  dead,  and  then  with  all  my 
thoughts  bent  on  the  living.  I  could  see  the  light  in  Lucy's 
window,  and  not  till  that  was  extinguished  did  I  retire.  It 
was  long  past  midnight. 

I  passed  hours  teeming  with  strange  emotions  among 
those  cedars.  Twice  I  knelt  by  Grace's  grave,  and  prayed 
devoutly  to  God.  It  seemed  to  me  that  petitions  offered  in 
such  a  place  must  be  blessed.  I  thought  of  my  mother,  of 
my  manly,  spirited  father,  of  Grace,  and  of  all  the  past. 
Then  I  lingered  long  beneath  Lucy's  window,  and,  in  spite 
of  this  solemn  visit  to  the  graves  of  the  dead,  the  brightest 
and  most  vivid  image  that  I  carried  away  with  me  was  of 
the  living. 


CHAPTER  X. 

Shy.  Three  thousand  ducats — well. 

Bass.  Ay,  sir,  for  three  months. 

Shy.  For  three  months — well. 

Bass.  For  the  which,  as  I  told  you,  Antonio  shall  become  bound. 

Shy.  Antonio  shall  become  bound — well. 

MERCHANT  OF  VENICE. 

I  FOUND  John  Wallingford  in  town,  awaiting  my  appear 
ance.  He  had  taken  lodgings  at  the  City  Hotel,  on  purpose 
to  be  under  the  same  roof  with  me,  and  we  occupied  adjoin 
ing  rooms.  I  dined  with  him ;  and  after  dinner  he  went 
with  me  to  take  a  look  at  the  Dawn.  The  second-mate  told 
me  that  Marble  had  made  a  flying  visit  to  the  ship,  promised 
to  be  back  again  in  a  few  days,  and  disappeared.  By  com 
paring  dates,  I  ascertained  that  he  would  be  in  time  to  meet 
the  mortgage  sale,  and  felt  no  further  concern  in  that  behalf. 

"  Miles,"  said  John  Wallingford,  coolly,  as  we  were  walk 
ing  up  Pine  street,  on  our  way  back  towards  the  tavern, 
"  did  you  not  tell  me  you  employed  Richard  Harrison  as  a 
legal  adviser?" 


140  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  I  did.  Mr.  Hardinge  made  me  acquainted  with  him, 
and  I  understand  he  is  one  of  the  oldest  lawyers  in  the 
country.  That  is  his  office,  on  the  other  side  of  the  street — 
here,  directly  opposite." 

"  I  saw  it,  and  that  was  the  reason  I  spoke.  It  might  be 
well  just  to  step  in  and  give  some  directions  about  your  will. 
I  wish  to  see  Clawbonny  put  in  the  right  line.  If  you 
would  give  me  a  deed  of  it  for  one  dollar,  I  would  not  take 
it  from  you,  the  only  son  of  an  eldest  son ;  but  it  would 
break  my  heart  to  hear  of  its  going  out  of  the  name.  Mr. 
Harrison  is  also  an  old  adviser  and  friend  of  mine." 

I  was  startled  with  this  plain-dealing;  yet,  there  was 
something  about  the  manner  of  the  man  that  prevented  my 
being  displeased. 

"  Mr.  Harrison  would  not  be  visible  at  this  hour,  but  I 
will  cross  to  the  office,  and  write  him  a  letter  on  the  subject," 
I  answered,  doing  as  I  said  on  the  instant,  and  leaving  John 
Wallingford  to  pursue  his  way  to  the  house  alone.  The 
next  day,  however,  the  will  was  actually  drawn  up,  exe 
cuted,  and  placed  in  my  cousin's  hands,  he  being  the  sole 
executor.  If  the  reader  should  ask  me  why  I  did  this, 
especially  the  last,  I  might  be  at  a  loss  to  answer.  A 
strange  confidence  had  come  over  me,  as  respects  this  rela 
tive,  whose  extraordinary  frankness  even  a  more  expe 
rienced  man  might  have  believed  to  be  either  the  height  of 
honesty,  or  the  perfection  of  art.  Whichever  was  the  case, 
I  not  only  left  my  will  with  him,  but,  in  the  course  of  the 
next  week,  I  let  him  into  the  secret  of  all  my  pecuniary 
affairs ;  Grace's  bequest  to  Rupert,  alone,  excepted.  John 
Wallingford  encouraged  this  confidence,  telling  me  that 
plunging  at  once,  heart  and  hand,  into  the  midst  of  business, 
was  the  most  certain  mode  of  forgetting  my  causes  of  sorrow. 
Plunge  into  anything  with  my  whole  heart,  I  could  not, 
then,  though  I  endeavoured  to  lose  my  cares  in  business. 

One  of  my  first  acts,  in  the  way  of  affairs,  was  to  look 
after  the  note  I  had  given  to  Rupert.  It  had  been  made 
payable  at  the  bank  where  I  kept  my  deposits,  and  I  went 
thither  to  inquire  if  it  had  been  left  for  collection.  The  fol 
lowing  conversation  passed  between  myself  and  the  cashier 
on  this  occasion : 

"  Good  morning,  Mr. ,"  I  said,  se luting  the  gentle- 


MILES     WALLINGFOKD.  141 

man  ;  "  I  have  come  to  inquire  if  a  note  for  $20,000,  made 
by  me  in  favour  of  Rupert  Hardinge,  Esquire,  at  ten  daysj 
has  been  left  for  collection.  If  so,  I  am  ready  to  pay  it 
now." 

The  cashier  gave  me  a  business  smile, — one  that  spoke 
favourably  of  my  standing  as  a  moneyed  man, — before  he 
answered  the  question.  This  smile  was,  also,  a  sign  that 
money  was  plenty. 

"  Not  absolutely  for  collection,  Captain  Wallingford,  as 
nothing  would  give  us  more  pleasure  than  to  renew  it,  if 
you  would  just  go  through  the  form  of  obtaining  a  city 
endorser." 

"  Mr.  Hardinge  has  then  left  it  for  collection,"  I  ob 
served,  pained,  in  spite  of  all  that  had  passed,  at  Rupert's 
giving  this  conclusive  evidence  of  the  inherent  meanness 
of  his  character. 

"  Not  exactly  for  collection,  sir,"  was  the  cashier's  an 
swer,  "  for,  wishing  to  anticipate  the  money,  by  a  few  days, 
and  being  under  the  necessity  of  leaving  town,  we  discount 
ed  it  for  him." 

"  Anticipate  ! — you  have  discounted  the  note,  sir !" 

"  With  the  greatest  pleasure,  knowing  it  to  be  good.  Mr. 
Hardinge  remarked  that  you  had  not  found  it  convenient 
to  draw  for  so  large  a  sum  on  the  spot,  and  had  given  this 
note  at  short  date  ;  and  the  consideration  having  been  re 
ceived  in  full,  he  was  desirous  of  being  put  in  cash,  at  once. 
We  did  not  hesitate,  of  course." 

"  Consideration  received  in  full !"  escaped  me,  spite  of  a 
determination  to  be  cool ;  but,  luckily,  the  appearance  of 
another  person  on  business  prevented  the  words,  or  the 
manner,  from  being  noted.  "  Well,  Mr.  Cashier,  I  will 
draw  a  check,  and  take  up  the  note,  now." 

More  smiles  followed.  The  check  was  given ;  the  note 
was  cancelled  and  handed  to  me,  and  I  left  the  bank  with  a 
balance  in  my  favour  of  rather  more  than  $10,000,  instead 
of  the  $30,000  odd,  which  I  had  held  previously  to  entering 
it.  It  is  true,  I  was  heir  at  law  to  all  Grace's  assets,  which 
Mr.  Hardinge  had  handed  over  to  me,  the  morning  I  left 
Clawbonny,  duly  assigned  and  transferred.  These  last  con 
sisted  of  stocks,  and  of  bonds  and  mortgages,  drawing  in 
terest,  being  on  good  farms  in  our  own  county. 


142  MILES     WALLINGFOIID. 

"  Well,  Miles,  what  do  you  mean  to  do  with  your  ship," 
demanded  Jack  Wallingford,  that  evening.  "  I  understand 
the  freight  for  which  you  bargained  has  been  transferred  to 
another  owner,  on  account  of  your  late  troubles ;  and  they 
tell  me  freights,  just  now,  are  not  very  high." 

"  Really,  cousin  Jack,  I  am  hardly  prepared  to  answer 
the  question.  Colonial  produce  commands  high  prices  in 
the  north  of  Germany,  they  tell  me ;  and,  were  I  in  cash, 
I  would  buy  a  cargo  on  my  own  account.  Some  excellent 
sugars  and  coffees,  &c.,  were  offered  me  to-day,  quite  rea 
sonably,  for  ready  money." 

"  And  how  much  cash  would  be  necessary  to  carry  out 
that  scheme,  my  man?" 

"  Some  850,000,  more  or  less,  while  I  have  but  about 
$10,000  on  hand;  though  I  can  command  $20,000  addi 
tional,  by  selling  certain  securities;  so  I  must  abandon  the 
notion." 

"  That  does  not  follow  necessarily.  Let  me  think  a  night 
on  it,  and  we  will  talk  further  in  the  morning.  I  like  quick 
bargains,  but  I  like  a  cool  head.  This  hot  town  and  old 
Madeira  keep  me  in  a  fever,  and  I  wish  a  night's  rest  be 
fore  I  make  a  bargain." 

The  next  morning,  John  Wallingford  returned  to  the 
subject,  at  breakfast,  which  meal  we  took  by  ourselves,  in 
order  to  be  at  liberty  to  converse  without  any  auditors. 

"  I  have  thought  over  that  sweet  subject,  the  sugars, 
Miles,"  commenced  my  cousin,  "  and  approve  of  the  plan. 
Can  you  give  me  any  further  security  if  I  will  lend  you  the 
money  ?" 

"  I  have  some  bonds  and  mortgages,  to  the  amount  of 
twenty-two  thousand  dollars,  with  me,  which  might  be  as 
signed  for  such  a  purpose." 

"  But  $22,000  are  an  insufficient  security  for  the  $30, 
000,  or  $35,000,  which  you  may  need  to  carry  out  your 
adventure." 

"  That  is  quite  true,  but  I  have  nothing  else  worth  men 
tioning — unless  it  be  the  ship,  or  Clawbonny." 

'*  Tut  for  the  ship  ! — she  is  gone,  if  you  and  your  cargo 
go;  and  as  for  insurances,  I  want  none  of  them — I  am  a 
landed  man,  and  like  landed  securities.  Give  me  your  note 
at  three  months,  or  six  months  if  you  will,  with  the  bonds 


MILES     WALLINOPORD  143 

and  mortgages  you  mention,  and  a  mortgage  on  Clawbonny, 
and  you  can  have  $40,000,  this  very  day,  should  you  need 
them." 

I  was  surprised  at  this  offer,  having  no  notion  my  kins 
man  was  rich  enough  to  lend  so  large  a  sum.  On  a  further 
conversation,  however,  I  learned  he  had  near  double  the  sum 
he  had  mentioned,  in  ready  money,  and  that  his  principal 
business  in  town  was  to  invest  in  good  city  securities.  He 
professed  himself  willing,  however,  to  lend  me  half,  in  order 
to  help  along  a  kinsman  he  liked.  I  did  not  at  all  relish  the 
notion  of  mortgaging  Clawbonny,  but  John  soon  laughed 
and  reasoned  me  out  of  that.  As  for  Grace's  securities,  I 
parted  with  them  with  a  sort  of  satisfaction  ;  the  idea  of 
holding  her  effects  being  painful  to  me. 

"  Were  it  out  of  the  family,  or  even  out  of  the  name,  I 
should  think  something  of  it  myself,  Miles,"  he  said,  "  but 
a  mortgage  from  you  to  me  is  like  one  from  me  to  you.  You 
have  made  me  your  heir,  and  to  be  honest  with  you,  boy,  7 
have  made  you  mine.  If  you  lose  my  money,  you  lose  your 
own." 

There  was  no  resisting  this.  My  kinsman's  apparent 
frankness  and  warmth  of  disposition  overcame  all  my  scru 
ples,  and  I  consented  to  borrow  the  money  on  his  own  terms. 
John  Wallingford  was  familiar  with  the  conveyancing  of 
real  estate,  and,  with  his  own  hand,  he  filled  up  the  neces 
sary  papers,  which  I  signed.  The  money  was  borrowed  at 
5  per  cent. ;  my  cousin  positively  refusing  to  receive  the 
legal  rate  of  interest  from  a  Wallingford.  Pay-day  was 
put  at  six  months'  distance,  and  all  was  done  in  due  form. 

"  I  shall  not  put  this  mortgage  on  record,  Miles,"  Jack 
Wallingford  remarked,  as  he  folded  and  endorsed  the  paper. 
44 1  have  too  much  confidence  in  your  honesty  to  believe  it 
necessary.  You  have  given  one  mortgage  on  Clawbonny 
with  too  much  reluctance,  to  render  it  probable  you  will  be 
in  a  hurry  to  execute  another.  As  for  myself,  I  own  to  a 
secret  pleasure  in  having  even  this  incomplete  hold  on  the 
old  place,  which  makes  me  feel  twice  as  much  of  a  Walling 
ford  as  I  ever  felt  before." 

For  my  part,  I  wondered  at  my  kinsman's  family  pride, 
and  I  began  to  think  I  had  been  too  humble  in  my  own  es 
timate  of  our  standing  in  the  world.  It  is  true,  it  was  not 


144  MILES   WALLINOFORD. 

easy  to  deceive  myself  in  this  particular,  and,  in  point  of 
fact,  I  was  certainly  right ;  but  when  I  found  a  man  who 
was  able  to  lend  $40,000  at  an  hour's  notice,  valuing  him 
self  on  coming  from  Miles  the  First,  I  could  not  avoid  fan 
eying  Miles  the  First  a  more  considerable  personage  than  I 
had  hitherto  imagined.  As  for  the  money,  I  was  gratified 
with  the  confidence  John  Wallingford  reposed  in  me,  had 
really  a  wish  to  embark  in  the  adventure  for  which  it  sup 
plied  the  means,  and  regarded  the  abstaining  from  recording 
the  mortgage  an  act  of  delicacy  and  feeling  that  spoke  well 
for  the  lender's  heart. 

My  cousin  did  not  cast  me  adrift  as  soon  as  he  had  filled 
my  pockets.  On  the  contrary,  he  went  with  me,  and  was 
a  witness  to  all  the  purchases  I  made.  The  colonial  pro 
duce  was  duly  bought,  in  his  presence,  and  many  a  shrewd 
hint  did  I  get  from  this  cool-headed  and  experienced  man, 
who,  while  he  was  no  merchant,  in  the  common  sense  of 
the  term,  had  sagacity  enough  to  make  a  first-class  dealer. 
As  I  paid  for  everything  in  ready  money,  the  cargo  was 
obtained  on  good  terms,  and  the  Dawn  was  soon  stowed. 
As  soon  as  this  was  done,  I  ordered  a  crew  shipped,  and  the 
hatches  battened  on. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  constant  and  important  busi 
ness  with  which  I  was  now  occupied,  had  a  tendency  to  dull 
the  edge  of  my  grief,  though  I  can  truly  say  that  the  image 
of  Grace  was  never  long  absent  from  my  mind,  even  in  the 
midst  of  my  greatest  exertions.  Nor  was  Lucy  forgotten. 
She  was  usually  at  my  sister's  side ;  and  it  never  happened 
that  I  remembered  the  latter,  without  seeing  the  beautiful 
semblance  of  her  living  friend,  watching  over  her  faded 
form,  with  sisterly  solicitude.  John  Wallingford  left  me, 
at  the  end  of  a  week,  after  seeing  me  fairly  under  way  as  a 
merchant,  as  well  as  ship-owner  and  ship-master. 

"  Farewell,  Miles,"  he  said,  as  he  shook  my  hand  with  a 
cordiality  that  appeared  to  increase  the  longer  he  knew  me , 
"  farewell,  my  dear  boy,  and  may  God  prosper  you  in  all 
your  lawful  and  just  undertakings.  Never  forget  you  are  a 
Wallingford,  and  the  owner  of  Clawbonny.  Should  we 
meet  again,  you  will  find  a  true  friend  in  me ;  should  we 
never  meet,  you  will  have  reason  to  remember  me." 

This  leave-taking  occurred  at  the  inn.     A  few  hours 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  145 

later  I  was  in  the  cabin  of  the  Dawn,  arranging  some 
papers,  when  I  heard  a  well-known  voice,  on  deck,  calling 
out  to  the  stevedores  and  riggers,  in  a  tone  of  authority — 
**  Come,  bear  a  hand,  and  lay  aft ;  off  that  forecastle ;  to 
this  derrick, — who  ever  saw  a  derrick  standing  before,  after 
the  hatches  were  battened  down,  in  a  first-class  ship ! — a 
regular  A.  No.  1  ?  Bear  a  hand — bear  a  hand ;  you  've 
got  an  old  sea-dog  among  you,  men." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  person.  On  reaching  the 
deck,  I  found  Marble,  his  coat  off,  but  still  wearing  all  the 
rest  of  his  "  go-ashores,"  flourishing  about  among  the  la 
bourers,  putting  into  them  new  life  and  activity.  He  heard 
my  footsteps  behind  him,  but  never  turned  to  salute  me, 
until  the  matter  in  hand  was  terminated.  Then  I  received 
that  honour,  and  it  was  easy  to  see  the  cloud  that  passed 
over  his  red  visage,  as  he  observed  the  deep  mourning  in 
which  I  was  clad. 

"  Good  morning  to  you,  Captain  Wallingford,"  he  said, 
making  a  mate's  bow, — "  good  morning,  sir.  God's  will  be 
done  !  we  are  all  sinners,  and  so  are  some  of  the  stevedores, 
who  've  left  this  derrick  standing  as  if  the  ship  needed  it  for 
a  jury-mast.  Yes,  sir,  God's  will  must  be  submitted  to; 
and  sorry  enough  was  I  to  read  the  obittery  in  the  news 
papers — Grace,  &c.,  daughter,  &c.,  and  only  sister,  &c.— 
You  '11  be  glad  to  hear,  however,  sir,  that  Willow  Cove  is 
moored  head  and  starn  in  the  family,  as  one  might  say,  and 
that  the  bloody  mortgage  is  cut  adrift." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  this,  Mr.  Marble,"  I  answered,  sub 
mitting  to  a  twinge,  as  I  remembered  that  a  mortgage  had 
just  been  placed  on  my  own  paternal  acres ;  "  and  I  trust 
the  place  will  long  remain  in  your  blood.  How  did  you 
leave  your  mother  and  niece  ?" 

"  I  've  not  left  'em  at  all,  sir.  I  brought  the  old  lady  and 
Kitty  to  town  with  me,  on  what  I  call  the  mutual  sight-see 
ing  principle.  They  are  both  up  at  my  boarding-house." 

"  I  am  not  certain,  Moses,  that  I  understand  this  mutual 
principle,  of  which  you  speak." 

"  God  bless  you,  Miles,"  returned  the  mate,  who  could 

presume  to  be  familiar,  again,  now  we  had  walked  so  far 

aft  as  not  to  have  any  listeners ;  "  call  me  Moses  as  often 

as  you  Dossiblv  can,  for  it 's  little  I  hear  of  that  pleasant 

13 


146  MILES     WALLIIfGFORD. 

sound  DOW.  Mother  will  dub  me  Oloff,  and  little  Kitty  calls 
me  nothing  but  uncle.  After  all,  I  have  a  bulrush  feelin7 
about  me,  and  Moses  will  always  seem  the  most  nat'ral. 
As  for  the  mutual  principle,  it  is  just  this ;  I  'm  to  show 
mother  the  Dawn,  one  or  two  of  the  markets — for,  would 
you  believe  it,  the  dear  old  soul  never  saw  a  market,  and  is 
dying  to  visit  one,  and  so  I  shall  take  her  to  see  the  Bear 
first,  and  the  Oswego  next,  and  the  Fly  last,  though  she 
cries  out  agin'  a  market  that  is  much  visited  by  flies.  Then 
I  must  introduce  her  to  one  of  the  Dutch  churches  ; — after 
that  't  will  go  hard  with  me,  but  I  get  the  dear  soul  into  the 
theatre;  and  they  tell  me  there  is  a  lion,  up  town,  that  will 
roar  as  loud  as  a  bull.  That  she  must  see,  of  course." 

"  And  when  your  mother  has  seen  all  these  sights,  what 
will  she  have  to  show  you  ?" 

"  The  tomb-stone  on  which  I  was  laid  out,  as  a  body 
might  say,  at  five  weeks  old.  She  tells  me  they  traced  the 
stone,  out  of  feelin'  like,  and  followed  it  up  until  they  fairly 
found  it,  set  down  as  the  head-stone  of  an  elderly  single 
lady,  with  a  most  pious  and  edifying  inscription  on  it. 
Mother  says  it  contains  a  whole  varse  from  the  bible  !  That 
stone  may  yet  stand  me  in  hand,  for  anything  I  know  to 
the  contrary,  Miles." 

I  congratulated  my  mate  on  this  important  discovery,  and 
inquired  the  particulars  of  the  affair  with  the  old  usurer; 
in  what  manner  the  money  was  received,  and  by  what  pro 
cess  the  place  had  been  so  securely  "  moored,  head  and 
starn,  in  the  family." 

II  It  was  all  plain  sailing  when  a  fellow  got  on  the  right 
course,"  Marble  answered.     "  Do  you  know,  Miles,  that 
they  call  paying  off  one  of  your  heavy   loads  on   land, 
"  lifting  the  mortgage  ;"  and  a  lift  it  is,  I  can  tell  you,  when 
a  man  has  no  money  to  do  it  with.     The  true  way  to  get 
out  of  debt  is  to  'am  money ;  I  've  found  that  much  out 
since  I  found  my  mother ;  and,  the  cash  in  hand,  all  you 
have  to  do  is  to  hand  it  over.     Old  Van  Tassel  was  civil 
enough  when  he  saw  the  bag  of  dollars,  and  was  full  of 
fine  speeches.     He  didn't  wish  to  distress  the  *  worthy  Mrs. 
Wetmore,  not  he ;  and  she  was  welcome  to  keep  the  money 
as  long  as  she  pleased,  provided  the  interest  was  punctually 
paid ;'  but  I  M  have  none  of  his  soft  words,  and  laid  down 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  147 

i.he  Spaniards,  and  told  him  to  count  them.  I  "  lifted  his 
encumbrance,"  as  they  call'd  it,  as  easily  as  if  it  had  been 
a  pillow  of  fresh  feathers,  and  walked  off  with  that  bit  of 
paper  in  my  hands,  with  the  names  tore  off  it,  and  satisfac 
tion  give  me,  as  my  lawyer  said.  This  law  is  droll  busi 
ness,  Miles ;  if  money  is  paid,  they  give  you  satisfaction, 
just  as  gentlemen  call  on  each  other,  you  know,  when  a 
little  cross.  But,  whatever  you  do,  never  put  your  hand 
and  seal  to  a  mortgage ;  for  land  under  such  a  curse  is  as 
likely  to  slide  one  way  as  the  other.  Clawbonny  is  an  older 
place  than  Willow  Cove,  even ;  and  both  are  too  venerable 
and  venerated  to  be  mortgaged." 

The  advice  came  too  late.  Clawbonny  was  mortgaged 
already,  and  I  confess  to  several  new  and  violent  twinges, 
as  I  recalled  the  fact,  while  Marble  was  telling  his  story. 
Still  I  could  not  liken  my  kinsman,  plain-talking,  warm 
hearted,  family-loving,  John  Wallingford,  to  such  a  griping 
usurer  as  Mrs.  Wetmore's  persecutor. 

I  was  glad  to  see  my  mate  on  every  account.  He  re 
lieved  me  from  a  great  deal  of  irksome  duty,  and  took 
charge  of  the  ship,  bringing  his  mother  and  Kitty,  that  very 
day,  to  live  in  the  cabin.  1  could  perceive  that  the  old  wo 
man  was  greatly  surprised  at  the  neatness  she  found  in  all 
directions.  According  to  her  notions,  a  ship  floated  nearly 
as  much  in  tar  as  in  the  water ;  and  great  was  her  pleasure 
in  finding  rooms  almost  (conscience  will  not  allow  me  to 
say  quite)  as  clean  as  her  own  residence.  For  one  whole 
day  she  desired  to  see  no  more  than  the  ship,  though  it  was 
easy  to  discover  that  the  good  woman  had  set  her  heart  on 
the  Dutch  church  and  the  lion.  In  due  time  her  son  re 
deemed  all  his  pledges,  not  forgetting  the  theatre.  With 
the  last,  good  Mrs.  Wetmore  was  astounded,  and  Kitty  in 
finitely  delighted.  The  pretty  little  thing  confessed  that  she 
should  like  to  go  every  night,  wondered  what  Horace  Bright 
would  think  of  it,  and  whether  he  would  dare  venture  alone 
to  a  play-house,  should  he  happen  to  come  to  York.  In 
1803  this  country  was  still  in  the  palmy  state  of  unsophis- 
tication.  There  were  few,  scarcely  any,  strolling  players, 
and  none  but  those  who  visited  the  cities,  properly  so  called, 
enjoyed  opportunities  of  witnessing  the  wonders  of  paint, 
patch  and  candle-light,  as  auxiliary  to  the  other  wonders  of 


148  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

the  stage.  Poor  little  Kitty !  There  was  a  day,  or  two, 
during  which  the  sock  and  buskin  wrought  their  usual  effect 
on  her  female  nature,  and  almost  eclipsed  the  glories  of 
Horace  Bright,  in  her  own  bright  eyes. 

I  could  not  refrain  from  accompanying  Marble's  party  to 
the  museum.  In  that  day,  this  was  a  somewhat  insignifi 
cant  collection  of  curiosities,  in  Greenwich  Street,  but  it  was 
a  miracle  to  the  aunt  and  niece.  Even  the  worthy  Man- 
hattanese  were  not  altogether  guiltless  of  esteeming  it  a 
wonder,  though  the  greater  renown  of  the  Philadelphia  Mu 
seum  kept  this  of  New  York  a  little  in  the  shade.  I  have 
often  had  occasion  to  remark  that,  in  this  republic,  the  peo 
ple  in  the  country  are  a  little  less  country,  and  the  people 
of  the  towns  a  good  deal  less  town,  than  is  apt  to  be  the 
case  in  great  nations.  The  last  is  easily  enough  accounted 
for :  the  towns  having  shot  up  so  rapidly,  and  receiving 
their  accessions  of  population  from  classes  not  accustomed 
to  town  lives  from  childhood.  Were  a  thousand  villages  to 
be  compressed  into  a  single  group  of  houses,  their  people 
would  long  retain  the  notions,  tastes  and  habits  of  villagers, 
though  they  would  form  a  large  town  in  the  aggregate. 
Such,  in  a  measure,  is  still  the  fact  with  our  American 
towns  ;  no  one  of  them  all  having  the  air,  tone  or  appear 
ance  of  a  capital,  while  most  of  them  would  be  paragons 
in  the  eyes  of  such  persons  as  old  Mrs.  Wetmore  and  her 
grand-daughter.  Thus  it  was,  that  the  Greenwich  Street 
Museum  gave  infinite  satisfaction  to  these  two  unsophisti 
cated  visitors.  Kitty  was  most  struck  with  certain  villain 
ous  wax-figures,  works  of  art  that  were  much  on  a  level 
with  certain  similar  objects  that  were  lately,  if  they  are  not 
now,  exhibited  for  the  benefit  of  the  Dean  and  Chapter  of 
Westminster  Abbey,  above  the  tombs  of  the  Plantagenets, 
and  almost  in  contact  with  that  marvel  of  gothic  art,  Henry 
VII's.  chapel!  It  is  said  that  "misery  makes  a  man  ac 
quainted  with  strange  bed-fellows."  So,  it  would  seem,  do 
shillings  and  sixpences.  To  return  to  Kitty  :  After  admir 
ing  divers  beauties,  such  as  the  New  York  Beauty,  the  South 
Carolina  Beauty,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Beauty,  she  fastened 
her  own  pretty  eyes  on  a  nun,  wondering  who  a  female  in 
such  an  attire  could  be.  In  1803,  a  nun  and  a  nunnery 
would  be  almost  as  great  curiosities,  in  America,  as  a  rhi 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  149 

noceros,  though   the  country  has   since  undergone  some 
changes  in  this  respect. 

"  Grandmother,"  exclaimed  Kitty,  "  who  can  that  lady 
be — it  isn't  Lady  Washington,  is  it  ?" 

"  It  looks  more  like  a  clergyman's  wife,  Kitty,"  answered 
the  worthy  Mrs.  Wetmore,  not  a  little  '  non-plushedj  her 
self,  as  she  afterwards  admitted.  "  I  should  think  Madam 
Washington  went  more  gaily  dressed,  and  looked  happier 
like.  I'm  sure  if  any  woman  could  be  happy,  it  was  she !  * 

"  Ay,"  answered  her  son,  "  there  is  truth  in  that  remark. 
This  woman,  here,  is  what  is  called  a  nun  in  the  Roman 
Catholic  quarters  of  the  world." 

"  A  nun !"  repeated  little  Kitty.  "  Isn't  that  the  sort  of 
woman  that  shuts  herself  up  in  a  house,  and  promises  never 
to  get  married,  uncle  ?" 

"You're  quite  right,  my  dear,  and  it's  matter  of  sur 
prise  to  me  how  you  should  pick  up  so  many  useful  idees, 
in  an  out-of-the-way  place,  like  Willow  Cove." 

"  It  was  not  out  of  your  way,  uncle,"  said  Kitty,  a  little 
reproachfully,  "  or  you  never  would  have  found  us." 

"  In  that  partic'lar  it  was  well  enough,  my  dear.  Yes, 
a  nun  is  a  sort  of  she-hermit,  a  breed  that  I  detest  alto 
gether." 

"  I  suppose,  Kitty,"  I  inquired,  "  you  think  it  wicked  in 
man  or  woman  to  take  a  vow  never  to  get  married." 

The  poor  girl  blushed,  and  she  turned  away  from  the  nun 
without  making  any  reply.  No  one  can  say  what  turn  the 
conversation  might  have  taken,  had  not  the  grandmother's 
eye  fell  on  an  indifferent  copy  of  Leonardo's  celebrated  pic 
ture  of  the  Last  Supper,  receiving  at  the  same  time  a  printed 
explanation,  one  got  up  by  some  local  antiquary,  who  had 
ventured  to  affix  names  to  the  different  personages  of  the 
group,  at  his  own  suggestion.  I  pointed  out  the  principal 
figure  of  the  painting,  which  is  sufficiently  conspicuous  by 
the  way,  and  then  referred  the  good  woman  to  the  cata 
logue  for  the  rest  of  the  names. 

"Bless  me,  bless  me!"   exclaimed  the  worthy  mother, 

*  that  I  should  live  ever  to  see  paintings  of  such  people ! 

Kitty,  my  dear,  this  bald-headed  old  man  is  St.  Peter.    Did 

you  ever  think  that  St.  Peter  was  bald  !    And  there  is  St. 

13* 


150  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

John,  with  black  eyes. — Wonderful,  wonderful,  that  I  shoula 
ever  live  to  see  likenesses  of  such  blessed  men !" 

Kitty  was  as  much  astonished  as  her  grandmother,  and 
even  the  son  was  a  little  mystified.  The  latter  remarked  that 
"  the  world  was  making  great  head-way  in  all  such  things, 
and,  for  his  part,  he  did  not  see  how  the  painters  and  authors 
found  out  all  they  drew  and  recorded." 

The  reader  may  easily  imagine  that  half  a  day  spent  in 
such  company  was  not  entirely  thrown  away.  Still,  half  a 
day  sufficed ;  and  I  went  to  the  Old  Coffee-house  at  one,  to 
eat  a  sandwich  and  drink  a  glass  of  porter ;  that  being  the 
inn  then  most  frequented  for  such  purposes,  especially  by 
the  merchants.  I  was  in  my  box,  with  the  curtain  drawn, 
when  a  party  of  three  entered  that  which  adjoined  it,  order 
ing  as  many  glasses  of  punch ;  which  in  that  day  was  a 
beverage  much  in  request  of  a  morning,  and  which  it  was 
permitted  even  to  a  gentleman  to  drink  before  dining.  It 
was  the  sherry-cobbler  of  the  age ;  although  I  believe  every 
thing  is  now  pronounced  to  be  out  of  fashion  before  dinner. 

As  the  boxes  were  separated  merely  by  curtains,  it  was 
impossible  to  avoid  hearing  any  conversation  that  passed  in 
the  one  adjoining  my  own,  especially  when  the  parties  took 
no  pains  to  speak  low,  as  happened  to  be  the  case  with  my 
three  neighbours.  Consequently,  I  recognised  the  voices 
of  Andrew  Drewett  and  Rupert  Hardinge  in  an  instant; — 
that  of  the  third  person  being  unknown  to  me. 

"Well,  Norton,"  said  Rupert,  a  little  affectedly  as  to 
manner,  "  you  have  got  Drewett  and  myself  down  here 
among  you  traders,  and  I  hope  you  will  do  the  honours  of 
the  place,  in  a  way  to  confer  on  the  latter  some  credit.  A 
merchant  is  nothing  without  credit,  you  know." 

"  Have  no  apprehensions  for  your  gentility,  Hardinge," 
returned  the  person  addressed.  "  Many  of  the  first  persons 
in  town  frequent  this  house,  at  this  hour,  and  its  punch  is 
renowned.  By-the-way,  I  saw  in  a  paper,  the  other  day, 
Rupert,  that  one  of  your  relatives  is  dead — Miss  Grace 
Wallingford,  your  sister's  old  associate." 

A  short  pause  followed,  during  which  I  scarcely  breathed. 

" No,  not  a  relation,"  Rupert  at  length  answered.  "Only 
my  father's  ward.  You  know  how  it  is  in  the  country : 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  151 

the  clergyman  being  expected  to  take  care  of  all  the  sick, 
and  all  the  orphans." 

"But  these  Wallingfords  are  people  altogether  above 
standing  in  need  of  favours,"  Drewett  hastily  observed.  "  I 
/vave  been  at  their  place,  and  really  it  is  a  respectable  spot. 
As  for  Miss  Wallingford,  she  was  a  most  charming  girl,  and 
her  death  will  prove  a  severe  blow  to  your  sister,  Hardinge." 

This  was  said  with  so  much  feeling,  that  I  could  almost 
forgive  the  speaker  for  loving  Lucy  ;  though  I  question  if  I 
could  ever  truly  forgive  him  for  being  beloved  by  her. 

"  Why,  yes,"  rejoined  Rupert,  affecting  an  indifference 
that  I  could  detect  he  was  far  from  feeling,  "  Grace  was 
a  good  creature ;  though,  living  so  much  with  her  in  child 
hood,  she  had  less  interest  in  my  eyes,  perhaps,  than  she 
might  have  had  in  those  of  one  less  accustomed  to  see  her. 
Notwithstanding,  I  had  a  certain  sort  of  regard  for  Grace,  I 
will  confess." 

"  Respect  and  esteem  her ! — I  should  think  all  who  knew 
her  must,"  added  Drewett,  as  if  determined  to  win  my 
heart ;  "  and,  in  my  opinion,  she  was  both  beautiful  and 
lovely." 

"This  from  a  man  who  is  confessedly  an  admirer— nay, 
engaged  to  your  own  sister,  as  the  world  says,  Hardinge, 
must  be  taken  as  warm  praise,"  said  the  third.  "  But,  I 
suppose,  Drewett  sees  the  dear  departed  with  the  eyes  of 
her  friend — for  Miss  Hardinge  was  very  intimate  with  her, 
I  believe." 

"  As  intimate  as  sisters,  and  loving  each  other  as  sisters," 
returned  Drewett,  with  feeling.  "  No  intimate  of  Miss 
Hardinge's  can  be  anything  but  meritorious." 

"  Grace  Wallingford  had  merit  beyond  a  question,"  added 
Rupert,  "  as  has  her  brother,  who  is  a  good,  honest  fellow 
enough.  When  a  boy,  J was  rather  intimate  with  him" 

"  The  certain  proof  of  his  excellencies  and  virtues ;"  put 
in  the  stranger,  laughing.  "  But,  if  a  ward,  there  must  be 
a  fortune.  I  think  I  have  heard  these  Wallingfords  were 
richish." 

"  Yes,  that  is  just  it— richish,"  said  Drewett.  "  Some 
forty  or  fifty  thousand  dollars  between  them,  all  of  which 
the  brother  must  now  inherit ;  and  glad  am  I  it  falls  to  sc 
good  a  fellow." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  This  is  generous  praise  from  yot/,  Drewett ;  for  I  hay 
heard  this  brother  might  prove  your  rival." 

"  I  had  some  such  fears  myself,  once,  I  will  confess,7*  re 
turned  the  other ;  "  but  they  are  all  vanished.  I  no  longer 
fear  him,  and  can  see  and  acknowledge  his  merits.  Besides, 
I  am  indebted  to  him  for  my  life." 

"  No  longer  fear  him."  —  This  was  plain  enough,  and 
was  proof  of  the  understanding  that  existed  between  the 
lovers.  And  why  should  I  be  feared  ? — I,  who  had  never 
dared  to  say  a  word  to  the  object  nearest  my  heart,  that 
might  induce  her  to  draw  the  ordinary  distinction  between 
passion  and  esteem — love,  and  a  brotherly  regard? 

"  Ay,  Drewett  is  pretty  safe,  I  fancy,"  Rupert  remarked, 
laughing ;  "  though  it  will  hardly  do  for  me  to  tell  tales  out 
of  school." 

"  This  is  a  forbidden  subject,"  rejoined  the  lover,  "  and 
we  will  talk  of  Wallingford.  He  must  inherit  his  sister's 
fortune." 

"  Poor  Grace ! — it  was  little  she  had  to  leave,  I  fancy," 
Rupert  quietly  observed. 

"  Ay,  little  in  your  eyes,  Hardinge,"  added  the  third 
person,  "  but  a  good  deal  in  those  of  her  brother,  the  ship 
master,  one  might  think.  Ever  since  you  have  fallen  heir 
to  Mrs.  Bradfort's  estate,  a  few  thousands  count  for  no 
thing." 

"  Were  it  a  million,  that  brother  would  think  it  dearly 
purchased  by  the  loss  of  his  sister  P'  exclaimed  Drewett. 

"  It  's  plain  enough  there  is  no  rivalry  between  Andrew 
and  Miles,"  added  the  laughing  Rupert.  "  Certainly  money 
is  not  quite  of  so  much  account  with  me  now,  as  it  used  to 
be  when  I  had  nothing  but  a  clergyman's  salary  to  glean 
from.  As  for  Mrs.  Bradfort's  fortune,  it  came  from  a  com 
mon  ancestor,  and  I  do  not  see  who  has  a  better  right  to  it, 
than  those  who  now  enjoy  it." 

"  Unless  it  might  be  your  father,"  said  the  third  man, 
"  who  stood  before  you,  according  to  the  laws  of  primo 
geniture.  I  dare  say  Rupert  made  love  to  his  venerable 
cousin,  if  the  truth  were  known,  and  induced  her  to  over 
look  a  generation,  with  his  oily  tongue." 

"  Rupert  did  nothing  of  the  sort ;  it  is  his  glory  to  love 
Emily  Merton,  and  Emily  Merton  only.  As  my  worthy 


MILES     WALLIN  O  FORD.  153 

cousin  could  not  take  her  fortune  with  her,  she  left  it  among 
her  natural  heirs.  How  do  you  know  I  have  got  any  of 
it.  I  give  you  my  honour,  my  account  in  bank  is  under 
$20,000." 

"  A  pretty  fair  account,  that,  by  Jove !"  exclaimed  the 
other.  "  It  must  be  a  rapping  income  that  will  permit  a 
fellow  like  you  to  keep  up  such  a  balance." 

"  Why,  some  persons  say  my  sister  has  the  whole  for 
tune.  I  dare  say  that  Drewett  can  satisfy  you  on  this  head. 
The  affair  concerns  him  quite  as  much  as  it  does  any  other 
person  of  my  acquaintance." 

"  I  can  assure  you  I  know  nothing  about  it ;"  answered 
Drewett,  honestly.  "  Nor  do  I  desire  to  know.  I  would 
marry  Miss  Hardinge  to-morrow,  though  she  had  not  a 
cent." 

"  It 's  just  this  disinterestedness,  Andrew,  that  makes  me 
like  you,"  observed  Rupert,  magnificently.  "  Depend  on 
it,  you  Ml  fare  none  the  worse,  in  the  long  run,  for  this  ad 
mirable  trait  in  your  character.  Lucy  knows  it,  and  appre 
ciates  it  as  she  should." 

I  wished  to  hear  no  more,  but  left  the  box  and  the  house, 
taking  care  not  to  be  seen.  From  that  moment,  I  was  all 
impatience  to  get  to  sea.  I  forgot  even  the  intention  of 
visiting  my  sister's  grave ;  nor  did  I  feel  that  I  could  sustain 
another  interview  with  Lucy  herself.  That  afternoon  I 
told  Marble  the  ship  must  be  ready  to  sail  the  succeeding 
morning. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"  Go  tenderness  of  years ;  take  this  key.  Give  enlargement  to  the 
swain — bring  him  festinately  hither.  I  must  employ  him  in  a  letter 
to  my  love."  LOVE'S  LABOUR  LOST. 

I  WILL  not  attempt  to  analyze  the  feelings  which  now 
impelled  me  to  quit  America.  I  had  discovered,  or  thought 
I  had  discovered,  certain  qualities  in  Andrew  Drewett, 
which  rendered  him,  in  some  measure,  at  least  worthy  of 


154  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

Lucy ;  and  I  experienced  how  painful  it  is  to  concede  such 
an  advantage  to  a  rival.  Still,  I  must  be  just  enough  to 
add,  that,  in  my  cooler  moments,  when  I  came  to  consider 
that  Lucy  could  never  be  mine,  I  was  rejoiced  to  find  such 
proofs  of  a  generous  disposition  in  her  future  husband.  On 
the  other  hand,  I  could  not  divest  myself  of  the  idea  that 
perfect  confidence  in  his  own  position,  could  alone  enable 
him  to  be  so  liberal  in  his  opinions  of  myself.  The  reader 
will  understand  how  extravagant  was  this  last  supposition, 
when  he  remembers  that  I  had  never  given  Lucy  herself,  or 
the  world,  any  sufficient  reason  to  suppose  that  I  was  a 
suitor  ibr  the  dear  girl's  hand. 

1  never  saw  Marble  so  industrious  as  he  proved  to  be 
when  he  received  my  hurried  orders  for  sailing,  that  after 
noon.  He  shipped  his  mother  and  niece  for  Willow  Cove, 
by  an  Albany  sloop,  the  same  evening,  got  the  crew  on 
board,  and  the  Dawn  into  the  stream,  before  sun-set,  and 
passed  half  the  night  in  sending  off  small  stores.  As  for 
the  ship,  she  had  been  cleared  the  day  the  hatches  were 
battened  down.  According  to  every  rule  of  mercantile 
thrift,  I  ought  to  have  been  at  sea  twenty-four  hours,  when 
these  orders  were  given ;  but  a  lingering  reluctance  to  go 
further  from  the  grave  of  Grace,  the  wish  to  have  one  more 
interview  with  Lucy,  and  a  disposition  to  indulge  my  mate 
in  his  commendable  zeal  to  amuse  his  new-found  relatives, 
kept  me  in  port  beyond  my  day. 

All  these  delays,  however,  were  over,  and  I  was  now  in 
a  feverish  hurry  to  be  off.  Neb  came  up  to  the  City  Hotel 
as  I  was  breakfasting,  and  reported  that  the  ship  was  riding 
at  single  anchor,  with  a  short  range,  and  that  the  fore-top 
sail  was  loose.  I  sent  him  to  the  post-office  for  letters,  and 
ordered  my  bill.  All  my  trunks  had  gone  aboard  before 
the  ship  hauled  off,  and, — the  distances  in  New  York  then 
being  short, — Neb  was  soon  back,  and  ready  to  shoulder 
my  carpet-bag.  The  bill  was  paid,  three  or  four  letters 
were  taken  in  my  hand,  and  I  walked  towards  the  Battery, 
followed  by  the  faithful  black,  who  had  again  abandoned 
home,  Chloe,  and  Clawbonny,  to  follow  my  fortunes. 

I  delayed  opening  the  letters  until  I  reached  the  Battery 
Despatching  Neb  to  the  boat,  with  orders  to  wait,  I  took  a 
turn  among  the  trees, — still  reluctant  to  quit  the  native  soil 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  155 

—while  I  broke  the  seals.  Two  -of  the  letters  bore  the 
post-marks  of  the  office  nearest  Clawbanny ;  the  third  was 
from  Albany;  and  the  fourth  was  a  packet  of  some  size 
from  Washington,  franked  by  the  Secretary  of  State,  and 
bearing  the  seal  of  office.  Surprised  at  such  a  circum 
stance,  I  opened  the  last  of  these  communications  first. 

The  official  letter  proved  to  be  an  envelope  containing, 
— with  a  civil  request  to  myself  to  deliver  the  enclosures, — 
dispatches  addressed  to  the  Consul  at  Hamburg,  for  which 
port  my  ship  had  been  advertised  some  time.  Of  course, 
I  could  only  determine  to  comply  ;  and  that  communication 
was  disposed  of.  One  of  the  Clawbonny  letters  was  in  Mr. 
Hardinge's  hand,  and  I  found  it  to  contain  some  excellent 
and  parental  advice.  He  spoke  of  my  sister,  but  it  was 
calmly,  and  with  the  humble  hope  that  became  his  sacred 
office,  I  was  not  sorry  to  find  that  he  advised  me  not  to 
visit  Clawbonny  before  I  sailed.  Lucy,  he  said,  was  well, 
and  a  gentle  sadness  was  gradually  taking  the  place  of  the 
livelier  grief  she  had  endured,  immediately  after  the  loss  of 
her  friend.  "  You  were  not  aware,  Miles,  how  keenly  she 
suffered,"  my  good  old  guardian  continued,  "  for  she  strug 
gled  hard  to  seem  calm  in  your  presence ;  but  from  me  my 
dear  child  had  no  secrets  on  this  subject,  whatever  she  may 
see  fit  to  have  on  another.  Hours  has  she  passed,  weeping 
on  my  bosom,  and  I  much  doubt  if  the  image  of  Grace  has 
been  absent  from  her  waking  thoughts  a  single  minute,  at 
any  one  time,  since  we  first  laid  your  sister's  head  in  the 
coffin.  Of  you  she  does  not  speak  often,  but,  when  she 
does,  it  is  ever  in  the  kindest  and  most  solicitous  manner ; 
calling  you  "  Miles,"  "  poor  Mites,"  or  "  dear  Miles,"  with 
all  that  sisterly  frankness  and  affection  you  have  known  in 
her  from  childhood."  The  old  gentleman  had  underscored 
the  "  sisterly"  himself. 

To  my  delight  and  surprise,  there  was  a  long,  very  long, 
letter  from  Lucy,  too !  How  it  happened  that  I  did  not  re 
cognise  her  pretty,  delicate,  lady-like  handwriting,  is  more 
than  I  can  say  ;  but  the  direction  had  been  overlooked  in  the 
confusion  of  receiving  so  many  letters  together.  That  di 
rection,  too,  gave  me  pleasure.  It  was  to  "  Miles  Walling, 
ford,  Esquire ;"  whereas  the  three  others  were  addressed  to 
"  Capt.  Miles  Wallingford,  ship  Dawn,  New  York."  Now, 


156  MILES      WALLINGFORD. 

a  ship-master  is  no  more  entitled,  in  strict  usage,  to  be  called 
a  "  captain,"  than  he  is  to  be  called  an  "  esquire.'*  Your 
man-of-war  officer  is  the  only  true  captain;  a  'master* 
being  nothing  but  a  *  master.'  Then,  no  American  is  en 
titled  to  be  called  an  '  esquire,'  which  is  the  correlative  of 
"  knight,"  and  is  a  title  properly  prohibited  by  the  constitu 
tion,  though  most  people  imagine  that  a  magistrate  is  an 
"  esquire"  ex  officio.  He  is  an  "  esquire"  as  a  member  of 
congress  is  an  "  honourable,"  by  assumption,  and  not  of 
right ;  and  I  wish  the  country  had  sufficient  self-respect  to 
be  consistent  with  itself.  What  should  we  think  of  Mark 
Anthony,  Esquire  ?  or  of  'Squire  Lucius  Junius  Brutus  ?  or 
His  Excellency  Julius  Csesar,  Esquire?*  Nevertheless, 
"  esquire"  is  an  appellation  that  is  now  universally  given  to 
a  gentleman,  who,  in  truth,  is  the  only  man  in  this  country 
that  has  any  right  to  it  at  all,  and  he  only  by  courtesy. 
Lucy  had  felt  this  distinction,  and  I  was  grateful  for  the  de 
licacy  and  tact  with  which  she  had  dropped  the  "  captain," 
and  put  in  the  "  esquire."  To  me  it  seemed  to  say  that 
she  recognised  me  as  one  of  her  own  class,  let  Rupert,  and 
his  light  associates,  think  of  me  as  they  might.  Lucy  never 
departed  a  hair's  breadth  from  the  strictly  proper,  in  all  mat 
ters  of  this  sort,  something  having  been  obtained  from  edu 
cation,  but  far  more  from  the  inscrutable  gifts  of  nature. 

As  for  the  letter  itself,  it  is  too  long  to  copy ;  yet  I  scarce 
know  how  to  describe  it.  Full  of  heart  it  was,  of  course, 
for  the  dear  girl  was  all  heart ;  and  it  was  replete  with  her 
truth  and  nature.  The  only  thing  in  it  that  did  not  give  me 
entire  satisfaction,  was  a  request  not  to  come  again  to  Claw- 
bonny,  until  my  return  from  Europe.  "  Time,"  she  added, 
"  will  lessen  the  pain  of  such  a  visit ;  and,  by  that  time, 
you  will  begin  to  regard  our  beloved  Grace  as  I  already  re 
gard  her,  a  spotless  spirit  waiting  for  our  union  with  it  in 
the  mansions  of  bliss.  It  is  not  easy,  Miles,  to  know  how 
to  treat  such  a  loss  as  this  of  ours.  God  may  bless  it  to 
our  lasting  good,  and,  in  this  light,  it  is  useful  to  bear  it 
ever  in  mind ;  while  a  too  great  submission  to  sorrow  may 

•  A  few  years  since,  the  writer  saw  a  marriage  announced  in  o 
coloured  paper,  which  read,  "  Married,  by  the  Rev.  Julius  Cesar, 
Waihington,  to  Miss ." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  157 

only  serve,  to  render  us  unhappy.  Still,  I  think,  no  one 
who  knew  Grace,  as  we  knew  her,  can  ever  recall  her  image 
without  feeling  himself  drawn  nearer  to  the  dread  being 
who  created  her,  and  who  has  called  her  to  himself  so  early. 
We,  alone,  thoroughly  understood  the  beloved  creature  $ 
My  dear,  excellent  father  loved  her  as  he  loves  me,  but  he 
could  not,  did  not  know  all  the  rare  virtues  of  her  heart. 
These  could  be  known  only  to  those  who  knew  her  great 
secret,  and,  God  be  praised !  even  Rupert  has  little  true 
knowledge  of  that." 

"  My  father  has  spoken  to  me  of  Grace's  wish,  that  he 
and  I  should  accept  some  memorials  of  the  affection  she 
bore  us.  These  were  unnecessary,  but  are  far  too  sacred 
to  be  declined.  I  sincerely  wish  that  their  value,  in  gold, 
had  been  less,  for  the  hair  I  possess  (some  of  which  is  re 
served  for  you)  is  far  more  precious  to  me,  than  any  dia 
monds,  or  stones,  could  possibly  become.  As,  however, 
something  must  be  purchased,  or  procured,  I  have  to  request 
that  my  memorial  may  be  the  pearli  you  gave  Grace,  on 
your  return  from  the  Pacific.  Of  course  I  do  not  mean 
the  valuable  necklace  you  have  reserved  for  one  who  will 
one  day  be  still  dearer  to  you  than  any  of  us,  but  the  dozen 
or  two  of  pearls  that  you  bestowed  on  your  sister,  in  my 
presence,  at  Clawbonny.  They  are  sufficiently  valuable  in 
themselves,  to  answer  all  the  purposes  of  Grace's  bequest, 
and  I  know  they  were  very  much  prized  by  her,  as  your 
gift,  dear  Miles.  I  am  certain  you  will  not  believe  they  will 
be  the  less  valuable  in  my  eyes,  on  that  account.  As  I 
know  where  they  are,  I  shall  go  to  Clawbonny  and  take 
possession  of  them  at  once,  so  you  need  give  yourself  no 
further  concern  on  account  of  the  memorial  that  was  to  be 
presented  to  me.  I  acknowledge  its  reception,  unless  you 
object  to  my  proposition." 

I  scarce  knew  what  to  think  of  this.  I  would  gladly  have 
bestowed  on  Lucy  pearls  of  equal  value  to  those  I  had 
given  Grace,  but  she  refused  to  receive  them ;  and  now  she 
asked  for  these  very  pearls,  which,  intrinsically,  were  not 
half  the  value  of  the  sum  I  had  informed  Mr.  Hardinge 
Grace  had  requested  me  to  expend  in  purchasing  a  memo 
rial.  This  avidity  to  possess  these  pearls — for  so  it  struck 
me — was  difficult  to  account  for,  Grace  having  owned  divers 
14 


158  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

other  ornaments  that  were  more  costly,  and  which  she  had 
much  oftener  worn.  I  confess,  I  had  thought  of  attempting 
to  persuade  Lucy  to  receive  my  own  necklace  as  the  memo 
rial  of  Grace,  but  a  little  reflection  satisfied  me  of  the  hope 
lessness  of  success,  and  nothing  had  been  said  on  the  sub 
ject.  Of  course  I  acquiesced  in  the  wish  of  the  dear  girl 
to  possess  the  pearls ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  I  determined 
to  make  an  additional  purchase,  more  thoroughly  to  carry 
out  the  wishes  of  my  sister. 

On  the  whole,  the  letter  of  Lucy  gave  me  a  great  and 
soothing  pleasure.  I  came  to  a  resolution  to  answer  it,  and 
to  send  that  answer  back  by  the  pilot.  I  had  no  owner  to 
feel  any  solicitude  in  the  movements  of  the  ship ;  had  no 
longer  a  sister  to  care  for  myself;  and  to  whom  else  could 
my  last  words  on  quitting  the  land  be  so  appropriately  ad 
dressed,  as  to  this  constant  and  true-hearted  friend  ?  That 
much,  at  least,  I  could  presume  to  call  Lucy,  and  even  to 
that  I  clung  as  the  ship-wrecked  mariner  clings  to  the  last 
plank  that  floats. 

The  fourth  letter,  to  my  astonishment,  bore  the  signature 
of  John  Wallingford,  and  the  date  of  Albany.  He  had  got 
this  far  on  his  way  home,  and  written  me  a  line  to  let  me 
know  the  fact.  I  copy  his  epistle  in  full,  viz : — 

"  DEAR  MILES, 

Here  I  am,  and  sorry  am  I  to  see,  by  the  papers,  there 
you  are  still.  Recollect,  my  dear  boy,  that  sugars  will 
melt.  It  is  time  you  were  off:  this  is  said  for  your  own 
sake,  and  not  for  mine,  as  you  well  know  I  am  amply 
secured.  Still,  the  markets  may  fall,  and  he  who  is  first  in 
them  can  wait  for  a  rise,  while  he  who  is  last  must  take 
what  offers." 

"  Above  all,  Miles,  do  not  take  it  into  your  head  to  alter 
your  will.  Things  are  now  arranged  between  us  precisely 
as  they  should  be,  and  I  hate  changes.  I  am  your  heir, 
and  you  are  mine.  Your  counsel,  Richard  Harrison,  Es 
quire,  is  a  man  of  great  respectability,  and  a  perfectly  safe 
repository  of  such  a  secret.  I  leave  many  of  my  papers 
in  his  hands,  and  he  has  now  been  my  counse.  ever  since 
I  had  need  of  one ;  and  treads  so  hard  on  Hamilton's  heelst 


MILES     WALLINOPORD.  159 

that  the  last,  sometimes  feels  his  toes.     This  is  as  counsel, 
however,  and  not  as  an  advocate. 

"  Adieu,  my  dear  boy :  we  are  both  Wallingfords,  and 
the  nearest  of  kin  to  each  other,  of  the  name.  Clawbonny 
will  be  safe  with  either  of  us,  and  either  of  us  will  be  safe 
with  Clawbonny. 

Your  affectionate  cousin, 

JOHN  WALLINGFOHD." 

I  confess  that  all  this  anxiety  about  Clawbonny  began 
to  give  me  some  uneasiness,  and  that  I  often  wished,  I  had 
been  less  ambitious,  or  less  hasty  would  be  the  better  word, 
and  had  been  content  to  go  to  sea  again,  in  my  simple 
character  of  ship-master,  and  ship-owner  ;  leaving  the  mer 
chant  to  those  who  better  understood  the  vocation. 

I  now  went  to  the  boat,  and  to  the  ship.  Marble  was  all 
ready  for  me,  and  in  ten  minutes  the  anchor  was  clear  of 
the  bottom ;  in  ten  more,  it  was  catted  and  fished,  and  the 
Dawn  was  beating  down  the  bay,  on  a  young  flood,  with  a 
light  breeze,  at  south-west.  The  pilot  being  in  charge,  I 
had  nothing  to  do  but  go  below,  and  write  my  letters.  1  an 
swered  everybody,  even  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  who,  at 
that  time,  was  no  less  a  man  than  James  Madison.  To 
him,  however,  I  had  nothing  to  say,  but  to  acknowledge 
the  receipt  of  the  dispatches,  and  to  promise  to  deliver  them. 
My  letter  to  Mr.  Hardinge,  was,  I  hope,  such  as  a  son  might 
have  written  to  a  revered  parent.  In  it,  I  begged  he  would 
allow  me  to  add  to  his  library,  by  a  purchase  of  theological 
works  of  value,  and  which,  in  that  day,  could  only  be  pro 
cured  in  Europe.  This  was  to  be  his  memorial  of  my  sis 
ter.  I  also  begged  of  his  friendship  an  occasional  look  at 
Clawbonny,  though  I  did  not  venture  to  speak  of  the  mort 
gage,  of  which  I  now  felt  a  sort  of  conviction  he  would 
not  approve. 

The  letter  to  John  Wallingford,  was  as  pithy  as  his  own 
to  me.  I  told  him  my  will  was  made,  on  a  conviction  of 
its  perfect  propriety,  and  assured  him  it  would  not  be  alter 
ed  in  a  hurry  ;  I  told  him  the  sugars  were  safe,  and  let 
him  understand  that  they  were  already  on  their  way  to 
Hamburg,  whence  I  hoped,  ere  long,  to  send  him  a  good 
account  of  their  sale. 


160  MILE8     WALLINGPORD. 

To  Lucy,  I  was  by  no  means  so  laconic.  On  the  sub 
ject  of  the  pearls  of  Grace,  I  begged  her  to  do  just  as 
she  pleased  ;  adding  a  request,  however,  that  she  would  se 
lect  such  others  of  my  sister's  ornaments,  as  might  be  most 
agreeable  to  herself.  On  this  point  I  was  a  little  earnest, 
since  the  pearls  were  not  worth  the  sum  Grace  had  men 
tioned  to  me ;  and  I  felt  persuaded  Lucy  would  not  wish 
me  to  remain  her  debtor.  There  was  a  pair  of  bracelets, 
in  particular,  that  Grace  had  highly  prized,  and  which  were 
very  pretty  in  themselves.  My  father  had  purchased  the 
stones — rubies  of  some  beauty — in  one  of  his  voyages,  for 
my  mother,  who  had  fancied  them  too  showy  for  her  to 
wear.  I  had  caused  them  to  be  set  for  Grace,  and  they 
would  make  a  very  suitable  ornament  for  Lucy ;  and  were 
to  be  so  much  the  more  prized,  from  the  circumstance,  that 
Grace  had  once  worn  them.  It  is  true,  they  contained  a 
little,  though  very  little  of  my  hair ;  for  on  this  Grace  had 
insisted  ;  but  this  hair  was  rather  a  blemish,  and  might 
easily  be  removed.  I  said  as  much  in  my  letter. 

On  the  subject  of  my  sister's  death,  I  found  it  impossible 
to  write  much.  The  little  I  did  say,  however,  was  in  full 
accordance  with  her  own  feelings,  I  felt  persuaded,  and  I 
had  no  difficulty  in  believing  she  would  sympathize  in  all  I 
did  express,  and  in  much  that  I  had  not  words  to  express. 

On  the  subject  of  the  necklace,  I  did  find  language  to 
communicate  a  little,  though  it  was  done  in  the  part  of  the 
letter  where  a  woman  is  said  to  give  her  real  thoughts, — 
the  postscript.  In  answer  to  what  Lucy  had  said  on  the 
subject  of  my  own  necklace,  I  wrote  as  follows,  viz  : — "You 
speak  of  my  reserving  the  more  valuable  pearls  for  one, 
who,  at  some  future  day,  may  become  my  wife.  I  confess 
this  was  my  own  intention,  originally ;  and  very  pleasant 
was  it  to  me  to  fancy  that  one  so  dear  would  wear  pearls 
that  had  been  brought  up  out  of  the  sea  by  my  own  hands. 
But,  dearest  Lucy,  all  these  agreeable  and  delusive  antici 
pations  have  vanished.  Depend  on  it,  I  shall  never  marry. 
I  know  that  declarations  of  this  sort,  in  young  men  of  three 
and  twenty,  like  those  of  maidens  of  nineteen,  excite  a  smile 
oftener  than  they  produce  belief;  but  I  do  not  say  this  with 
out  reflection,  and,  I  may  add,  without  feeling.  She  whom 
I  once  did  hope  to  persuade  to  marry  me,  although  much 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  161 

my  friend,  is  not  accustomed  to  view  me  with  the  eyes  that 
lead  to  love.  We  were  brought  together  under  circumstances 
that  have  probably  induced  her  to  regard  me  more  as  a 
brother  than  as  a  suitor,  and  while  the  golden  moments  have 
passed  away,  her  affections  have  become  the  property  of 
another.  I  resemble,  in  this  particular  at  least,  our  regret 
ted  Grace,  and  am  not  likely  to  change.  My  nature  may 
be  sterner,  and  my  constitution  stronger,  than  those  of  my 
poor  sister  proved  to  be,  but  I  feel  I  cannot  love  twice ;  not 
as  I  have,  and  still  do  love,  most  certainly.  Why  should  I 
trouble  you  with  all  this,  however  1  I  know  you  will  not 
accept  of  the  necklace — though  so  ready  to  give  me  your 
own  last  piece  of  gold,  when  I  went  to  sea,  you  have  ever 
been  so  fastidious  as  to  refuse  every  thing  from  us  that  had 
the  least  appearance  of  a  pecuniary  obligation — and  it  is 
useless  to  say  more  about  it.  I  have  no  right  to  trouble  you 
with  my  griefs,  especially  at  a  moment  when  I  know  your 
affectionate  heart  is  suffering  so  deeply  from  our  recent 
loss." 

I  will  confess  that,  while  writing  this,  I  fancied  I  was 
making  a  sort  of  half-declaration  to  Lucy  ;  one  that  might, 
at  least,  give  her  some  faint  insight  into  the  real  state  of  my 
heart ;  and  I  had  a  melancholy  satisfaction  in  thinking  that 
the  dear  girl  might,  by  these  means,  learn  how  much  I  had 
prized  and  still  did  prize  her.  It  was  only  a  week  later, 
while  pondering  over  what  I  had  written,  the  idea  occurred 
to  me  that  every  syllable  I  had  said  would  apply  just  as  well 
to  Emily  Merton  as  to  Lucy  Hardinge.  Peculiar  circum 
stances  had  made  me  intimately  acquainted  with  our  young 
English  friend,  and  these  circumstances  might  well  have 
produced  the  very  results  I  had  mentioned.  We  all  believed 
Emily's  affections  to  be  engaged  to  Rupert,  who  must  have 
succeeded  during  my  absence  at  sea.  A  modest  and  self- 
distrusting  nature,  like  that  of  Lucy's,  would  be  very  apt  to 
turn  to  any  other  than  herself  in  quest  of  the  original  of 
my  picture. 

These  letters  occupied  me  for  hours.  That  to  Lucy,  in 
particular,  was  very  long,  and  it  was  not  written  wholly 
without  care.  When  all  were  done,  and  sealed,  and  enve 
loped  to  the  address  of  the  post-master,  I  went  on  deck. 
The  pilot  and  Marble  had  not  been  idle  while  I  had  beeo 
14* 


162  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

below,  for  I  found  the  ship  just  weathering  the  south-west 
Spit,  a  position  that  enabled  me  to  make  a  fair  wind  of  it 
past  the  Hook  and  out  to  sea. 

Certainly  I  was  in  no  haste  to  quit  home.  I  was  leaving 
my  native  land,  Clawbonny,  the  grave  of  my  sister,  and 
Lucy,  dearest  Lucy,  all  behind  me ;  and,  at  such  an  instant, 
one  feels  the  ties  that  are  about  to  be  separated.  Still,  every 
seaman  is  anxious  for  an  offing,  and  glad  was  I  to  see  the 
head  of  the  Dawn  pointing  in  the  right  direction,  with  her 
yards  nearly  square,  and  a  fore-top-mast  studding-sail  set. 
The  pilot  was  all  activity,  and  Marble,  cool,  clear-headed  in 
his  duty,  and  instinctively  acquainted  with  everything  be 
longing  to  a  vessel,  was  just  the  man  to  carry  out  his  views 
to  his  heart's  content. 

The  ship  went,  rising  and  falling  on  the  swells  of  the 
ocean,  that  now  began  to  make  themselves  felt,  past  the 
light  and  the  low  point  of  the  Hook,  within  a  few  minutes 
after  we  had  squared  away,  and,  once  more,  the  open  ocean 
lay  before  us.  I  could  not  avoid  smiling  at  Neb,  just  as  we 
opened  the  broad  waste  of  waters,  and  got  an  unbroken 
view  of  the  rolling  ocean  to  the  southward.  The  fellow 
was  on  the  main-top-sail  yard,  having  just  run  out,  and 
lashed  the  heel  of  a  top-gallant-studding-sail  boom,  in  order 
to  set  the  sail.  Before  he  lay  in  to  the  mast,  he  raised  his 
Herculean  frame,  and  took  a  look  to  windward.  His  eyes 
opened,  his  nostrils  dilated,  and  I  fancied  he  resembled  a 
hound  that  scented  game  in  the  gale,  as  he  snuffed  the  sea- 
air  which  came  fanning  his  glistening  face,  filled  with  the 
salts  and  peculiar  flavours  of  the  ocean.  I  question  if  Neb 
thought  at  all  of  Chloe,  for  the  next  hour  or  two ! 

As  soon  as  we  got  over  the  bar,  I  gave  the  pilot  my  pack 
age,  and  he  got  into  his  boat.  It  was  not  necessary  to 
shorten  sail  in  order  to  do  this,  for  the  vessel's  way  did  not 
exceed  five  knots. 

"  Do  you  see  the  sail,  hereaway  in  the  south-eastern 
board,"  said  the  pilot,  as  he  went  over  the  side,  pointing  to 
wards  a  white  speck  on  the  ocean ;  "  take  care  of  that  fel 
low,  and  give  him  as  wide  a  berth  as  possible,  -or  he  may 
give  you  a  look  at  Halifax,  or  Bermuda." 

"  Halifax,  or  Bermuda  !  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  eitheT 
and  shall  not  go  there.  Why  should  I  fear  that  sail  ?M 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  163 

"  On  account  of  your  cargo,  and  on  account  of  your 
men.  That  is  His  Majesty's  ship  Leander ;  she  has  been 
off  here,  now,  more  than  a  week.  The  inward-bound  craft 
say  she  is  acting  under  some  new  orders,  and  they  name 
several  vessels  that  have  been  seen  heading  north-east  after 
she  had  boarded  them.  This  new  war  is  likely  to  lead  to 
new  troubles  on  the  coast,  and  it  is  well  for  all  outward- 
bound  ships  to  be  on  the  look-out." 

"His  Majesty's  ship"  was  a  singular  expression  for  an 
American  to  use,  towards  any  sovereign,  twenty  years  after 
the  independence  of  the  country  was  acknowledged.  But, 
it  was  common  then,  nor  has  it  ceased  entirely  even  among 
the  newspapers  of  the  present  hour ;  so  much  harder  is  it 
to  substitute  a  new  language  than  to  produce  a  revolution. 
Notwithstanding  this  proof  of  bad  taste  in  the  pilot,  I  did 
not  disregard  his  caution.  There  had  been  certain  unplea 
sant  rumours,  up  in  town,  for  more  than  a  month,  that  the 
two  great  belligerents  would  be  apt  to  push  each  other  into 
the  old  excesses,  England  and  France  at  that  day  having 
such  a  monopoly  of  the  ocean  as  to  render  them  somewhat 
independent  of  most  of  the  old-fashioned  notions  of  the 
rights  of  neutrals.  As  for  America,  she  was  cursed  with 
the  cant  of  economy — an  evil  that  is  apt  to  produce  as  many 
bad  consequences  as  the  opposite  vice,  extravagance.  The 
money  paid  as  interest  on  the  sums  expended  in  the  war  of 
1812,  might  have  maintained  a  navy  that  would  have  caused 
both  belligerents  to  respect  her  rights,  and  thereby  saved 
the  principal  entirely,  to  say  nothing  of  all  the  other  im 
mense  losses  dependent  on  an  interrupted  trade ;  but  dema 
gogues  were  at  work  with  their  raven  throats,  and  it  is  not 
reasonable  to  expect  that  the  masses  can  draw  very  just 
distinctions  on  the  subject  of  remote  interests,  when  present 
expenditure  is  the  question  immediately  before  them.  It  is 
true,  I  remember  a  modern  French  logician,  who  laid  down 
the  dogma  that  the  tendency  of  democracies  being  to  ex 
cesses,  if  you  give  a  people  the  power,  they  would  tax  them 
selves  to  death  ;  but,  however  true  this  theory  may  be  in 
the  main,  it  certainly  is  not  true  quoad  the  good  citizens  of 
the  great  model  republic.  It  was  bad  enough  to  be  accursed 
with  a  spurious  economy;  but  this  was  not  the  heaviest 
grievance  that  then  weighed  upon  the  national  interests. 


164  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

The  demon  of  faction,  party  spirit,  was  actively  at  work  in 
the  country ;  and  it  was  almost  as  rare  to  find  a  citizen 
who  was  influenced  purely  by  patriotic  and  just  views,  as 
it  would  be  to  find  an  honest  man  in  the  galleys.  Tho 
nation,  as  a  rule,  was  either  English  or  French.  Some 
swore  by  the  First  Consul,  and  some  by  Billy  Pitt.  As  fbr 
the  commercial  towns,  taken  in  connection  with  the  uppei 
classes,  these  were  little  more  than  so  many  reflections  of 
English  feeling,  exaggerated  and  rendered  still  more  fac 
titious,  by  distance.  Those  who  did  not  swallow  all  that 
the  English  tories  chose  to  pour  down  their  throats,  took 
the  pillules  Napoleons  without  gagging.  If  there  were  ex 
ceptions,  they  were  very  few,  and  principally  among  tra 
velled  men  —  pilgrims  who,  by  approaching  the  respective 
idols,  had  discovered  they  were  made  by  human  hands ! 

Impressment  at  sea,  and  out  of  neutral  vessels,  was  re 
vived,  as  a  matter  of  course,  with  the  renewal  of  the  war 
and  all  American  ships  felt  the  expediency  of  avoiding 
cruisers  that  might  deprive  them  of  their  men.  Strange  as 
it  may  seem,  a  large  and  leading  class  of  Americans  justi 
fied  this  claim  of  the  English,  as  it  was  practised  on  board 
their  own  country's  vessels !  What  will  not  men  defend 
when  blinded  and  excited  by  faction  ?  As  this  practice  was 
to  put  the  mariner  on  the  defensive,  and  to  assume  that 
every  man  was  an  Englishman  who  could  not  prove,  out  on 
the  ocean,  a  thousand  miles  from  land  perhaps,  that  he  was 
an  American,  it  followed  that  English  navy  officers  exer 
cised  a  jurisdiction  over  foreigners  and  under  a  foreign  flag, 
that  would  not  be  tolerated  in  the  Lord  High  Chancellor 
himself,  in  one  of  the  streets  of  London ;  that  of  throwing 
the  burthen  of  proving  himself  innocent,  on  the  accused 
party !  There  was  an  abundance  of  other  principles  that 
were  just  as  obvious,  and  just  as  unanswerable  as  this, 
which  were  violated  by  the  daily  practices  of  impressment, 
but  they  all  produced  no  effect  on  the  members  of  Congress 
and  public  writers  that  sustained  the  right  of  the  English, 
who  as  blindly  espoused  one  side  of  the  main  question  as 
their  opponents  espoused  the  other.  Men  acting  under  the 
guidance  of  factions  are  not  compos  mentis. 

I  think  I  may  say,  without  boasting  unreasonably  of  my 
own  good  sense,  that  I  have  kept  myself  altogether  aloof 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  165 

from  the  vortex  of  parties,  from  boyhood  to  the  present  hour. 
My  father  had  been  a  federalist,  but  a  federalist  a  good  deal 
cooled  oft^  from  having  seen  foreign  countries,  and  no 
attempts  had  ever  been  made  to  make  me  believe  that  black 
was  white  in  the  interest  of  either  faction.  I  knew  that  im 
pressment  from  foreign  vessels,  out  of  the  waters  of  Great 
Britain  at  least,  could  be  defended  on  no  other  ground  but 
that  of  power ;  and  as  for  colonial  produce,  and  all  *he 
subtleties  that  were  dependent  on  its  transportation,  I  fan 
cied  that  a  neutral  had  a  perfect  right  to  purchase  of  one 
belligerent  and  sell  to  another,  provided  he  found  it  his 
interest  so  to  do,  and  he  violated  no  positive — not  paper — 
blockade,  or  did  not  convey  articles  that  are  called  contra 
band  of  war. 

With  these  views,  then,  it  is  not  surprising  that  I  easily 
came  into  the  pilot's  opinion,  and  determined  to  give  the 
Leander  a  sufficient  berth,  as  sailors  express  it. 

The  Leander  was  a  fifty,  on  two  decks,  a  very  silly  sort 
of  a  craft ;  though  she  had  manfully  played  her  part  at  the 
Nile,  and  on  one  or  two  other  rather  celebrated  occasions,  and 
was  a  good  vessel  of  the  build.  Still,  I  felt  certain  the 
Dawn  could  get  away  from  her,  under  tolerably  favourable 
circumstances.  The  Leander  afterwards  became  notorious, 
on  the  American  coast,  in  consequence  of  a  man  killed  in  a 
coaster  by  one  of  her  shot,  within  twenty  miles  of  the  spot 
where  I  now  saw  her ;  an  event  that  had  its  share  in  awa 
kening  the  feeling  that  produced  the  war  of  1812 ;  a  war 
of  which  the  effects  are  just  beginning  to  be  made  manifest 
in  the  policy  of  the  republic :  a  fact,  by-the-way,  that  is 
little  understood,  at  home  or  abroad.  The  Leander  was  a 
fast  ship  of  her  kind,  but  the  Dawn  was  a  fast  ship  of  any 
kind ;  and  I  had  great  faith  in  her.  It  is  true,  the  fifty  had 
ihe  advantage  of  the  wind ;  but  she  was  a  long  way  off, 
well  to  the  southward,  and  might  have  something  in  sight 
that  could  not  be  seen  even  from  our  top-gallant  yards, 
whither  Neb  was  sent  to  take  a  look  at  the  horizon. 

Our  plan  was  soon  laid.  The  south  side  of  Long  Island 
trending  a  little  to  the  north  of  east,  I  crdered  the  ship  to 
be  steered  east  by  south,  which,  with  the  wind  at  south- 
•outh-west,  gave  me  an  opportunity  to  carry  all  our  stud 
ding-sails.  The  soundings  were  as  regular  as  the  ascent 


166  MILES     W  ALLINGFORD. 

on  the  roof  of  a  shed,  or  on  that  of  a  graded  lawn ;  and  the 
land  in  sight  less  than  two  leagues  distant.  In  this  manner 
we  ran  down  the  coast,  with  about  six  knots'  way  on  the 
ship,  as  soon  as  we  got  from  under  the  Jersey  shore. 

In  less  than  an  hour,  or  when  we  were  about  four  leagues 
from  Sandy  Hook  Light,  the  Englishman  wore  short  round, 
and  made  sail  to  cut  us  off.  By  this  time,  he  was  just 
forward  of  our  weather  beam,  a  position  that  did  not  enable 
him  to  carry  studding-sails  on  both  sides ;  for,  had  he  kept 
off  enough  for  this,  he  would  have  fallen  into  our  wake ; 
while,  by  edging  away  to  close  with  us,  his  after-sails 
becalmed  the  forward,  and  this  at  the  moment  when  every 
thing  of  ours  pulled  like  a  team  of  well-broken  cart-horses. 
Notwithstanding  all  this,  we  had  a  nervous  afternoon's  and 
night's  work  of  it.  These  old  fifties  are  great  travellers  off 
the  wind  ;  and  more  than  once  I  fancied  the  Leander  was 
going  to  lay  across  my  bows,  as  she  did  athwart  those  of 
the  Frenchman,  at  the  Nile.  The  Dawn,  however,  was  not 
idle,  and,  as  the  wind  stood  all  that  day,  throughout  the 
night,  and  was  fresher,  though  more  to  the  southward,  than 
it  had  hitherto  been,  next  morning,  I  had  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  Montauk  a  little  on  my  lee-bow,  at  sun-rise,  while  my 
pursuer  was  still  out  of  gun-shot  on  my  weather  beam. 

Marble  and  I  now  held  a  consultation  on  the  subject  of 
the  best  mode  of  proceeding.  I  was  half  disposed  to  let  the 
Leander  come  up,  and  send  a  boat  on  board  us.  What  had 
we  to  fear  ?  We  were  bound  to  Hamburg,  with  a  cargo, 
one  half  of  which  came  from  the  English,  while  the  other 
half  came  from  French  islands. — But  what  of  that  ?  Mar 
ble,  however,  would  not  listen  to  such  a  project.  He  affirmed 
that  he  was  a  good  pilot  in  all  the  sounds,  and  that  it  would 
be  better  to  risk  everything,  rather  than  let  that  fifty  close 
with  us. 

"  Keep  the  ship  away,  for  Montauk,  sir,"  exclaimed  the 
mate — "keep  her  away  for  Montauk,  and  let  that  chap  follow 
us  if  he  dare  !  There's  a  reef  or  two,  inside,  that  I'll  engage 
to  lead  him  on,  should  he  choose  to  try  the  game,  and  that 
will  cure  him  of  his  taste  for  chasing  a  Yankee." 

"Will  you  engage,  Moses,  to  carry  the  ship  over  the 
shoals,  if  I  will  do  as  you  desire,  and  go  inside?" 

"  I'll  carry  her  into  any  port,  east  of  Block  Island,  Cap- 


MILES   WALLINOFORD.  167 

tain  Wallingford.  Though  New  York  born,  as  it  now  turns 
out,  Fm  'down  east'  edicated,  and  have  got  a  *  coasting 
pilot'  of  my  own  in  my  head." 

This  settled  the  matter,  and  I  came  to  the  resolution  to 
stand  on. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

a  The  wind  blows  fair,  the  vessel  feels 
The  pressure  of  the  rising  breeze, 
And,  swiftest  of  a  thousand  keels 
She  leaps  to  the  careering  seas — " 

WILLIS. 

HALF  an  hour  later,  things  drew  near  a  crisis.  We  had 
been  obliged  to  luff  a  little,  in  order  to  clear  a  reef  that  even 
Marble  admitted  lay  off  Montauk,  while  the  Leander  had 
kept  quite  as  much  away,  with  a  view  to  close.  This 
brought  the  fifty  so  near  us,  directly  on  our  weather  beam, 
as  to  induce  her  commander  to  try  the  virtue  of  gunpowder. 
Her  bow-gun  was  fired,  and  its  shot,  only  a  twelve-pounder, 
richoched  until  it  fairly  passed  our  fore-foot,  distant  a  hun 
dred  yards,  making  its  last  leap  from  the  water  precisely  in 
a  line  with  the  stem  of  the  Dawn.  This  was  unequivocal 
evidence  that  the  game  could  not  last  much  longer,  unless 
the  space  between  the  two  vessels  should  be  sensibly  widened. 
Fortunately,  we  now  opened  Montauk  fort,  and  the  option  was 
offered  us  of  doubling  that  point,  and  entering  the  sound, 
or  of  standing  on  towards  Block  Island,  and  putting  the  re 
sult  on  our  heels.  After  a  short  consultation  with  Marble, 
I  decided  on  the  first. 

One  of  the  material  advantages  possessed  by  a  man-of- 
war  in  a  chase  with  a  merchant  vessel,  is  in  the  greater 
velocity  with  which  her  crew  can  make  or  take  in  sail.  I 
knew  that  the  moment  we  began  to  touch  our  braces,  tacks 
and  sheets,  that  the  Leander  would  do  the  same,  and  that 
she  would  effect  her  objects  in  half  the  time  in  which  we 
could  effect  ours.  Nevertheless,  the  thing  was  to  be  done 
and  we  set  about  the  preparations  with  care  and  assiduity. 


168  MILES   TV  ALLINGFORD. 

It  was  a  small  matter  to  round  in  our  weather  braces,  until 
the  yards  were  nearly  square,  but  the  rigging  out  of  her 
studding-sail  booms,  and  the  setting  of  the  sails,  was  a  job 
to  occupy  the  Dawn's  people  several  minutes.  Marble  sug 
gested  that  by  edging  gradually  away,  we  should  bring  the 
Leander  so  far  on  our  quarter  as  to  cause  the  after-sails  to 
conceal  what  we  were  about  forward,  and  that  we  might 
steal  a  march  on  our  pursuers  by  adopting  this  precaution. 
I  thought  the  suggestion  a  good  one,  and  the  necessary  or 
ders  were  given  to  carry  it  out. 

Any  one  might  be  certain  that  the  Englishman's  glasses 
were  levelled  on  us  the  whole  time.  Some  address  was 
used,  therefore,  in  managing  to  get  our  yards  in  without 
showing  the  people  at  the  braces.  This  was  done  by  keep 
ing  off  first,  and  then  by  leading  the  ropes  as  far  forward  as 
possible,  and  causing  the  men  to  haul  on  them,  seated  on 
deck.  In  this  manner  we  got  our  yards  nearly  square,  or 
as  much  in  as  our  new  course  required,  when  we  sent  hands 
aloft,  forward,  to  get  out  the  lee  booms.  But  we  reckoned 
without  our  host.  John  Bull  was  not  to  be  caught  in  that 
way.  The  hands  were  hardly  in  the  lee  fore  rigging,  be 
fore  I  saw  the  fifty  falling  off  to  our  course,  her  yards 
squared,  and  signs  aboard  her  that  she  had  larboard  studding 
sails  as  well  as  ourselves.  The  change  of  course  had  one 
good  effect,  however :  it  brought  our  pursuer  so  far  on  our 
quarter,  that,  standing  at  the  capstan,  I  saw  him  through  the 
mizen  rigging.  This  took  the  Dawn  completely  from  under 
the  Leander's  broadside,  leaving  us  exposed  to  merely  four 
or  five  of  her  forward  guns,  should  she  see  fit  to  use  them. 
Whether  the  English  were  reluctant  to  resort  to  such  very 
decided  means  of  annoyance,  so  completely  within  the  Amer 
ican  waters,  as  we  were  clearly  getting  to  be,  or  whether 
they  had  so  much  confidence  in  their  speed,  as  to  feel  no 
necessity  for  firing,  I  never  knew ;  but  they  did  not  have 
any  further  recourse  to  shot. 

As  might  have  been  foreseen,  the  fifty  had  her  extra  can 
vass  spread  some  time  before  we  could  open  ours,  and  I 
fancied  she  showed  the  advantage  thus  obtained  in  her  rate 
of  sailing.  She  certainly  closed  with  us,  though  we  closed 
much  faster  with  the  land:  still,  there  was  imminent  dan- 


MILES    W ALLIN G FORD. 

ger  of  her  overhauling  us  before  we  could  round  the  point, 
unless  some  decided  step  were  promptly  taken  to  avoid  it. 

"  On  the  whole,  Mr.  Marble,"  I  said,  after  my  mates  and 
myself  had  taken  a  long  and  thoughtful  look  at  the  actual 
state  of  things — "  On  the  whole,  Mr.  Marble,  it  may  be  well 
to  take  in  our  light  sails,  haul  our  wind,  and  let  the  man-of- 
war  corne  up  with  us.  We  are  honest  folk,  and  there  is 
little  risk  in  his  seeing  all  we  have  to  show  him." 

"  Never  think  of  it !"  cried  the  mate.  "  After  this  long 
pull,  the  fellow  will  be  as  savage  as  a  bear  with  a  sore  head. 
He  'd  not  leave  a  hand  on  board  us,  that  can  take  his  trick 
at  the  wheel ;  and  it's  ten  chances  to  one  that  he  would 
send  the  ship  to  Halifax,  under  some  pretence  or  other, 
that  the  sugars  are  not  sweet  enough,  or  that  the  coffee 
was  grown  in  a  French  island,  and  tastes  French.  No — 
no — Captain  Wallingford — here's  the  wind  at  sou'-sou'-west, 
and  we're  heading  nothe-east,  and-by-nothe-half-nothe  al 
ready,  with  that  fellow  abaft  the  mizen  riggin' ;  as  soon 
as  we  get  a  p'int  more  to  the  nor'ard,  we  '11  have  him  fair 
ly  in  our  wake." 

"Ay,  that  will  do  very  well  as  a  theory,  but  what  can 
we  make  of  it  in  practice?  We  are  coming  up  towards 
Montauk  at  the  rate  of  eight  knots,  and  you  have  told  me 
yourself  there  is  a  reef  off  that  point,  directly  towards  which 
we  must  this  moment  be  standing.  At  this  rate,  fifteen  min 
utes  might  break  us  up  into  splinters." 

I  could  see  that  Marble  was  troubled,  by  the  manner  in 
which  he  rolled  his  tobacco  about,  and  the  riveted  gaze  he 
kept  on  the  water  ahead.  I  had  the  utmost  confidence  in 
his  seaman-like  prudence  and  discretion,  while  I  knew  he 
was  capable  of  suggesting  anything  a  ship  could  possibly 
perform,  in  an  emergency  that  called  for  such  an  exercise 
of  decision.  At  that  moment,  he  forgot  our  present  rela 
tions,  and  went  back,  as  he  often  did  when  excited,  to  the 
days  of  our  greater  equality,  and  more  trying  scenes. 

"  Harkee,  Miles,"  he  said,  "  the  reef  is  dead  ahead  of  us, 
but,  there  is  a  passage  between  it  and  the  point.  I  went 
through  that  passage  in  the  revvylution-war,  in  chase  of  an 
English  West  Injyman,  and  stood  by  the  lead  the  whole 
way,  myself.  Keep  her  away,  Neb — keep  her  away,  ano- 
5 


170  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

ther  p'int:  so — steady — very  well,  dyce  (anglice,  thus) — keep 
her  so,  and  let  John  Bull  follow  us,  if  he  dare." 

"  You  should  be  very  sure  of  your  channel,  Mr.  Marble,' 
I  said  gravely,  "  to  take  so  much  responsibility  on  yourself 
Remember  my  all  is  embarked  in  this  ship,  and  the  insu 
rance  will  not  be  worth  a  sixpence,  if  we  are  lost  running 
through  such  a  place  as  this  in  broad  day-light.  Reflect  a 
moment,  I  beg  of  you,  if  not  certain  of  what  you  do." 

"  And  what  will  the  insurance  be  worth,  ag'in  Halifax,  or 
Bermuda  ?  I'll  put  my  life  on  the  channel,  and  would  caro 
more  for  your  ship,  Miles,  than  my  own.  If  you  love  me, 
stand  on,  and  let  us  see  if  that  lubberly  make-believe  two- 
decker  dare  follow." 

I  was  fain  to  comply,  though  I  ran  a  risk  that  I  find  it 
impossible,  now,  to  justify  to  myself.  I  had  my  cousin 
John  Wallingford's  property  in  charge,  as  well  as  my  own, 
or  what  was  quite  as  bad,  I  placed  Clawbonny  in  imminent 
jeopardy.  Still,  my  feelings  were  aroused,  and  to  the  ex 
citement  of  a  race,  was  added  the  serious  but  vague  appre 
hensions  all  American  seamen  felt,  in  that  day,  of  the  great 
belligerents.  It  is  a  singular  proof  of  human  justice,  that 
the  very  consequences  of  these  apprehensions  are  made 
matter  of  reproach  against  them. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  dwell  further  on  the  policy  of 
England  and  France,  during  their  great  contest  for  supe 
riority,  than  is  necessary  to  the  narrative  of  events  con 
nected  with  my  own  adventures ;  but  a  word  in  behalf  of 
American  seamen  in  passing,  may  not  be  entirely  out  of 
place  or  season.  Men  are  seldom  wronged  without  being 
calumniated,  and  the  body  of  men  of  which  I  was  then  one, 
did  not  escape  that  sort  of  reparation  for  all  the  grievances 
they  endured,  which  is  dependent  on  demonstrating  that  the 
injured  deserve  their  sufferings.  We  have  been  accused  of 
misleading  English  cruisers  by  false  information,  of  being 
liars  to  an  unusual  degree,  and  of  manifesting  a  grasping 
love  of  gold,  beyond  the  ordinary  cupidity  of  man.  Now, 
I  will  ask  our  accusers,  if  it  were  at  all  extraordinary  that 
they  who  felt  themselves  daily  aggrieved,  should  resort  to 
the  means  within  their  power  to  avenge  themselves?  As 
for  veracity,  no  one  who  has  reached  my  present  time  of 
life,  can  be  ignorant  that  truth  is  the  rarest  thing  in  the 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  171 

world,  nor  are  those  who  have  been  the  subjects  of  mystifi 
cations  got  up  in  payment  for  wrongs,  supposed  or  real,  the 
most  impartial  judges  of  character  or  facts.  As  for  the 
charge  of  an  undue  love  of  money,  it  is  unmerited.  Money 
will  do  less  in  America  than  in  any  other  country  of  my 
acquaintance,  and  infinitely  less  than  in  either  France  or 
England.  There  is  truth  in  this  accusation,  as  applied 
either  to  a  particular  class,  or  to  the  body  of  the  American 
people,  only  in  one  respect.  It  is  undeniable  that,  as  a  new 
nation,  with  a  civilization  that  is  wanting  in  so  many  of  its 
higher  qualities,  while  it  is  already  so  far  advanced  in  those 
which  form  the  basis  of  national  greatness,  money  does  not 
meet  with  the  usual  competition  among  us.  The  institu 
tions,  too,  by  dispensing  with  hereditary  consideration,  do 
away  with  a  leading  and  prominent  source  of  distinction 
that  is  known  to  other  systems,  thus  giving  to  riches  an  ex 
clusive  importance,  that  is  rather  apparent,  however,  than 
real.  I  acknowledge,  that  little  or  no  consideration  is  yet 
given  among  us  to  any  of  the  more  intellectual  pursuits, 
the  great 'bulk  of  the  nation  regarding  literary  men,  artists, 
even  professional  men,  as  so  many  public  servants,  that  are 
to  be  used  like  any  other  servants,  respecting  them  and  their 
labours  only  as  they  can  contribute  to  the  great  stock  of 
national  wealth  and  renown.  This  is  owing,  in  part,  to  the 
youth  of  a  country  in  which  most  of  the  material  founda 
tion  was  so  recently  to  be  laid,  and  in  part  to  the  circum 
stance  that  men,  being  under  none  of  the  factitious  restraints 
of  other  systems,  coarse  and  vulgar-minded  declaimers 
make  themselves  heard  and  felt  to  a  degree  that  would  not 
be  tolerated  elsewhere.  Notwithstanding  all  these  defects, 
which  no  intelligent,  and  least  of  all,  no  travelled  American 
should  or  can  justly  deny,  I  will  maintain  that  gold  is  not 
one  tittle  more  the  goal  of  the  American,  than  it  is  of  the 
native  of«  other  active  and  energetic  communities.  It  is 
true,  there  is  little  besides  gold,  just  now,  to  aim  at  in  this 
country,  but  the  great  number  of  young  men  who  devote 
themselves  to  letters  and  the  arts,  under  such  unfavourable 
circumstances,  a  number  greatly  beyond  the  knowledge  of 
foreign  nations,  proves  it  is  circumstances,  and  not  the  gro 
velling  propensities  of  the  people  themselves,  that  give  gold 
a  so  nearly  undisputed  ascendency.  The  great  numbers 


172  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

who  devote  themselves  to  politics  among  us,  certainly  any 
thing  but  a  money-making  pursuit,  proves  that  it  is  princi 
pally  the  want  of  other  avenues  to  distinction  that  renders 
gold  apparently  the  sole  aim  of  American  existence.     To 
return  from  this  touch  of  philosophy  to  our  ships. 

The  progress  of  the  Dawn  soon  left  us  no  choice  in  the 
course  to  be  steered.  We  could  see  by  the  charts  that  the 
reef  was  already  outside  of  us,  and  there  was  now  no  alter- 
native  between  going  ashore,  or  going  through  Marble's 
channel.  We  succeeded  in  the  last,  gaining  materially  or. 
the  Leander  by  so  doing,  the  Englishman  hauling  his  wind 
when  he  thought  himself  as  near  to  the  danger  as  was  pru 
dent,  and  giving  up  the  chase.  I  ran  on  to  the  northward 
an  hour  longer,  when,  finding  our  pursuer  was  hull  down 
to  the  southward  and  westward,  I  look  in  our  larboard  stud 
ding-sails,  and  brought  the  ship  by  the  wind,  passing  out  to 
sea  again,  to  the  eastward  of  Block  Island. 

Great  was  the  exultation  on  board  the  Dawn  at  this  es 
cape  ;  for  escape  it  proved  to  be.  Next  morning,  at  sunrise, 
we  saw  a  sail  a  long  distance  to  the  westward,  which  we 
supposed  to  be  the  Leander;  but  she  did  not  give  chase. 
Marble  and  the  people  were  delighted  at  having  given  John 
Bull  the  slip;  while  I  learned  caution  from  the  occurrence; 
determining  not  to  let  another  vessel  of  war  get  near  enough 
to  trouble  me  again,  could  I  possibly  prevent  it. 

From  this  time,  for  twenty  days,  the  passage  of  the  Dawn 
had  nothing  unusual.  We  crossed  the  Banks  in  forty-six, 
and  made  as  straight  a  course  for  the  western  extremity  of 
England,  as  the  winds  would  allow.  For  several  days,  I 
was  uncertain  whether  to  go  north-about,  or  not,  believing 
that  I  should  fall  in  with  fewer  cruisers  by  doubling  Scot 
land,  than  by  running  up  channel.  The  latter  was  much 
the  nearest  route ;  though  so  much  depends  on  the  winds, 
that  I  determined  to  let  these  last  govern.  Until  we  had 
made  two-thirds  of  our  distance  across  the  ocean,  the  winds 
had  stood  very  much  at  south-west ;  and,  though  we  had  no 
heavy  weather,  our  progress  was  good  ;  but  in  20°  east 
from  Greenwich,  we  got  north-easters,  and  our  best  tack 
being  the  larboard,  I  stood  for  ten  days  to  the  southward 
and  eastward.  This  brought  us  into  the  track  of  every 
thing  going  to,  or  coming  from,  the  Mediterranean ;  and, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  173 

had  we  stood  on  far  enough,  we  should  have  made  the  land 
somewhere  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  I  knew  we  should  find 
the  ocean  dotted  with  English  cruisers,  however,  as  soon  as 
we  got  into  the  European  waters,  and  we  tacked  to  the  north 
west,  when  about  a  hundred  leagues  from  the  land. 

The  thirty-third  day  out  proved  one  of  great  importance 
to  me.  The  wind  had  shifted  to  south-west,  and  it  was 
blowing  fresh,  with  very  thick  weather — rain,  mingled  with 
a  fine  mist,  that  often  prevented  one's  seeing  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  the  ship.  The  change  occurred  at  midnight,  and 
mere  was  every  prospect  of  the  wind's  standing  until  it 
shoved  us  into  the  chops  of  the  channel,  from  which  we 
were  then  distant  about  four  hundred  miles,  according  to 
my  own  calculation.  Marble  had  the  watch  at  four  o'clock, 
And  he  sent  for  me,  that  I  might  decide  on  the  course  to  be 
steered  and  the  sail  to  be  carried.  The  course  was  N.  N. 
r^ast ;  but,  as  for  the  sail,  I  determined  to  stand  on  under 
our  topsails  and  fore-course,  spanker  and  jib,  until  I  could 
get  a  IOOK  by  daylight.  When  the  sun  was  fairly  up,  there 
was  no  cnange,  and  I  gave  orders  to  get  along  some  of  the 
larger  studding-sails,  and  to  set  the  main-top-gallant  sail, 
having  my  doubts  whether  the  spars  would  bear  any  more 
canvass,  under  the  stiff  breeze  that  was  blowing. 

*'  Tms  is  no  great  distance  from  the  spot  where  we  sur 
prised  the  Lady  of  Nantes,  Captain  Wallingford,"  Marble 
observed  to  me,  as  I  stood  overlooking  the  process  of  bend 
ing  a  fore-topmast  studding-sail,  in  which  he  was  engaged 
with  his  own  hands ;  "  nor  was  the  weather  any  thicker 
then  than  IT  is  now,  though  that  was  a  haze,  and  this  is  a 
mist.5' 

"  You  are  out  of  your  longitude  a  few  hundred  miles, 
Master  Moses,  but  the  comparison  is  well  enough,  otherwise. 
We  have  twice  the  wind  and  sea  we  had  then,  moreover, 
and  that  was  dry  weather,  while  this  is,  to  speak  more  gin 
gerly,  a  little  moist." 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir ;  there  is  just  that  difference.  Them  were 
pleasant  days,  Captain  Wallingford  —  I  say  nothing  ag'in 
these — but  them  'ere  were  pleasant  times,  as  all  in  the  Crisis 
must  allow." 

"  Perhaps  we  shall  think  the  same  of  these  some  five  or 
BIX  years  hence." 
15* 


174  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  Well,  that 's  natur',  I  must  confess.  It 's  amazing  ho\f 
the  last  v'yge  hangs  in  a  man's  memory,  and  how  little  we 
think  of  the  present !  I  suppose  the  Lord  made  us  all  of 
this  disposition,  for  it's  sartain  we  all  manifest  it.  Come, 
bear  a  hand  Neb,  on  that  fore-yard,  and  let  us  see  the  length 
of  the  slun-sail  boom." 

But,  Neb,  contrary  to  his  habits,  stood  upright  on  the 
yard,  holding  on  by  the  lift,  and  looking  over  the  weather 
leach  of  the  topsail,  apparently  at  some  object  that  either 
was  just  then  visible,  or  which  had  just  before  been  visible. 

"  What  is  it  ?"  cried  Marble,  struck  with  the  black's  atti 
tude  and  manner.  "  What  d'ye  see  ?" 

"  I  don't  see  him  now,  sir ;  nuttin'  now ;  but  dere  was  a  ship." 

"  Where-away  ?"  I  demanded. 

"Off,  here,  Masser  Mile  —  larboard  bow,  well  forrard; 
look  sharp  and  soon  see  him,  yourself,  sir." 

Sharp  enough  we  did  look,  all  hands  of  us  on  deck,  and, 
in  less  than  a  minute,  we  caught  a  pretty  good  view  of 
the  stranger  from  the  forecastle.  He  might  have  been  visi 
ble  to  us  half  a  minute,  in  one  of  those  momentary  openings 
in  the  mist,  that  were  constantly  occurring,  and  which 
enabled  the  eye  to  command  a  range  around  the  ship  of  half 
a  mile,  losing  it  again,  however,  almost  as  soon  as  it  was 
obtained.  Notwithstanding  the  distance  of  time,  I  can  per 
fectly  recall  the  appearance  of  that  vessel,  seen  as  she  was, 
for  a  moment  only,  and  seen  too  so  unexpectedly.  It  was 
a  frigate,  as  frigates  then  were ;  or  a  ship  of  that  medium 
size  between  a  heavy  sloop-of- war  and  a  two-decker,  which, 
perhaps,  offers  the  greatest  proportions  for  activity  and  force. 
We  plainly  saw  her  cream-coloured,  or  as  it  is  more  usual 
to  term  it,  her  yellaic  streak,  dotted  with  fourteen  ports,  in 
cluding  the  bridle,  and  gleaming  brightly  in  contrast  to  the 
dark  and  glistening  hull,  over  which  the  mist  and  the  spray 
of  the  ocean  cast  a  species  of  sombre  lustre.  The  stranger 
was  under  his  three  topsails,  spanker  and  jib,  each  of  the 
former  sails  being  double  reefed.  His  courses  were  in  the 
brails.  As  the  wind  did  not  blow  hard  enough  to  bring  a 
vessel  of  any  size  to  more  than  one  reef,  even  on  a  bowline, 
this  short  canvass  proved  that  the  frigate  was  on  her  cruising 
ground,  and  was  roaming  about  in  quest  of  anything  that 
might  offer.  This  was  just  the  canvass  to  give  a  cruiser  a 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  175 

wicked  look,  since  it  denoted  a  lazy  preparation,  which 
might,  in  an  instant,  be  improved  into  mischief.  As  all 
cruising  vessels,  when  on  their  stations  doing  nothing,  reef 
at  night,  and  the  hour  was  still  early,  it  was  possible  we  had 
made  this  ship  before  her  captain,  or  first-lieutenant,  had 
made  his  appearance  on  deck.  There  she  was,  at  all  events, 
dark,  lustrous,  fair  in  her  proportions,  her  yards  looming 
square  and  symmetrical,  her  canvass  damp,  but  stout  and 
new,  the  copper  bright  as  a  tea-kettle,  resembling  a  new 
cent,  her  hammock-cloths  with  the  undress  appearance  this 
part  of  a  vessel  of  war  usually  offers  at  night,  and  her 
quarter-deck  and  forecastle  guns  frowning  through  the  lan 
yards  of  her  lower  rigging  like  so  many  slumbering  bull 
dogs  muzzled  in  their  kennels. 

The  frigate  was  on  an  easy  bow- line,  or,  to  speak  more 
correctly,  was  standing  directly  across  our  fore-foot,  with 
her  yards  nearly  square.  In  a  very  few  minutes,  each 
keeping  her  present  course,  the  two  ships  would  have  passed 
within  pistol-shot  of  each  other.  I  scarce  knew  the  nature 
of  the  sudden  impulse  which  induced  me  to  call  out  to  the 
man  at  the  wheel  to  starboard  his  helm.  It  was  probably 
from  instinctive  apprehension  that  it  were  better  for  a  neu 
tral  to  have  as  little  to  do  with  a  belligerent  as  possible,  min 
gled  with  a  presentiment  that  I  might  lose  some  of  my  peo 
ple  by  impressment.  Call  out  I  certainly  did,  and  the 
Dawn's  bows  came  up  to  the  wind,  looking  to  the  westward, 
or  in  a  direction  contrary  to  that  in  which  the  frigate  was 
running,  as  her  yards  were  square,  or  nearly  so.  As  soon  as 
the  weather  leeches  touched,  the  helm  was  righted,  and  away 
we  went  with  the  wind  abeam,  with  about  as  much  breeze 
as  we  wanted  for  the  sail  we  carried. 

The  Dawn  might  have  been  half  a  mile  to  windward  of 
the  frigate  when  this  manoeuvre  was  put  in  execution.  We 
were  altogether  ignorant  whether  our  own  ship  had  been 
seen ;  but  the  view  we  got  of  the  stranger  satisfied  us  that 
he  was  an  Englishman.  Throughout  the  whole  of  the  long 
wars  that  succeeded  the  French  Revolution,  the  part  of  the 
ocean  which  lay  off  the  chops  of  the  channel  was  vigi 
lantly  watched  by  the  English,  and  it  was  seldom,  indeed,  a 
vessel  could  go  over  it,  without  meeting  more  or  less  of  their 
cruisers. 


176  MILES    WALLIHGFORI>. 

I  was  not  without  a  hope  that  the  two  ships  would  pass 
each  other,  without  our  being  seen.  The  mist  became  very 
thick  just  as  we  hauled  up,  and,  had  this  change  of  course 
taken  place  after  we  were  shut  in,  the  chances  were  greatly 
in  favour  of  its  being  effected.  Once  distant  a  mile  from 
the  frigate,  there  was  little  danger  of  her  getting  a  glimpse 
of  us,  since,  throughout  all  that  morning,  I  was  satisfied  we 
had  not  got  an  horizon  with  that  much  of  diameter. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  preparations  with  the  studding- 
sails  were  suspended.  Neb  was  ordered  to  lay  aloft,  as  high 
as  the  cross-trees,  and  to  keep  a  vigilant  look-out,  while  all 
eyes  on  deck  were  watching  as  anxiously,  in  the  mist,  as 
we  had  formerly  watched  for  the  shadowy  outline  of  la 
Dame  de  Nantes.  Marble's  long  experience  told  him  best 
where  to  look,  and  he  caught  the  next  view  of  the  frigate. 
She  was  directly  under  our  lee,  gliding  easily  along  undejr 
the  same  canvass;  the  reefs  still  in,  the  courses  in  the  brails, 
and  the  spanker  rolled  up,  as  it  had  been  for  the  night. 

"  By  George,"  cried  the  mate,  "  all  them  Johnny  Bulls 
are  still  asleep,  and  they  have  n't  seen  us !  If  we  can  give 
this  fellow  the  slip,  as  we  did  the  old  Leander,  Captain 
Wallingford,  the  Dawn  will  become  as  famous  as  the  Fly 
ing  Dutchman  !  See,  there  he  jogs  on,  as  if  going  to  mill, 
or  to  church,  and  no  more  stir  aboard  him  than  there  is  in 
a  Quaker  meetin' !  How  my  good  old  soul  of  a  mother 
would  enjoy  this !" 

There  the  frigate  went,  sure  enough,  without  the  smallest 
sign  of  any  alarm  having  been  given  on  board  her.  The 
vessels  had  actually  passed  each  other,  and  the  mist  was 
thickening  again.  Presently,  the  veil  was  drawn,  and  the 
form  of  that  beautiful  ship  was  entirely  hid  from  sight. 
Marble  rubbed  his  hands  with  delight ;  and  all  our  people 
began  to  joke  at  the  expense  of  the  Englishman.  *  If  a 
merchantman  could  see  a  man-of-war,'  it  was  justly  enough 
said,  *  a  man-of-war  ought  certainly  to  see  a  merchantman. 
Her  look-outs  must  have  all  been  asleep,  or  it  would  not 
have  been  possible  for  us  to  pass  so  near,  under  the  canvass 
we  carried,  and  escape  undiscovered.  Most  of  the  Dawn's 
crew  were  native  Americans,  though  there  were  four  or  five 
Europeans  among  them.  Of  these  last,  one  was  certainly 
an  Englishman,  and  (as  I  suspected)  a  deserter  from  a  put>- 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  177 

lie  ship;  and  the  other,  beyond  all  controversy,  was  a  plant 
of  the  Emerald  Isle.  These  two  men  were  particularly 
delighted,  though  well  provided  with  those  veracious  docu 
ments  called  protections,  which,  like  beggars'  certificates, 
never  told  anything  but  truth ;  though,  like  beggars'  certifi 
cates,  they  not  unfrequently  fitted  one  man  as  well  as 
another.  It  was  the  well-established  laxity  in  the  character 
of  this  testimony,  that  gave  the  English  officers  something 
like  a  plausible  pretext  for  disregarding  all  evidence  in  the 
premises.  Their  mistake  was  in  supposing  they  had  a  right 
to  make  a  man  prove  anything  on  board  a  foreign  ship ; 
while  that  of  America  was,  in  permitting  her  citizens  to  be 
arraigned  before  foreign  judges,  under  any  conceivable  cir 
cumstances.  If  England  wanted  her  own  men,  let  her  keep 
them  within  her  own  jurisdiction ;  not  attempt  to  follow 
them  into  the  jurisdiction  of  neutral  states. 

Well,  the  ship  had  passed ;  and  I  began  myself  to  fancy 
that  we  were  quit  of  a  troublesome  neighbour,  when  Neb 
came  down  the  rigging,  in  obedience  to  an  order  from  the 
mate. 

"  Relieve  the  wheel,  Master  Clawbonny,"  said  Marble, 
who  often  gave  the  negro  his  patronymic,  "  we  may  want 
some  of  your  touches,  before  we  reach  the  foot  of  the 
danse.  Which  way  was  John  Bull  travelling  when  you 
last  saw  him?" 

"  He  goin'  eastward,  sir." — Neb  was  never  half  as  much 
"nigger"  at  sea,  as  when  he  was  on  shore, — there  being 
something  in  his  manly  calling  that  raised  him  nearer  to 
the  dignity  of  white  men.  —  "But,  sir,  he  was  gettin'  his 
people  ready  to  make  sail." 

"  How  do  you  know  that? — No  such  thing,  sir;  all  hands 
were  asleep,  taking  their  second  naps." 

"  Well,  you  see,  Misser  Marble ;  den  you  know,  sir." 

Neb  grinned  as  he  said  this ;  and  I  felt  persuaded  he  had 
seen  something  that  he  understood,  but  which  very  possibly 
he  could  not  explain ;  though  it  clearly  indicated  that  John 
Bull  was  not  asleep.  We  were  not  left  long  in  doubt  on 
this  head.  The  mist  opened  again,  and,  distant  from  us 
about  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  bearing  on  our  lee  quarter, 
we  got  another  look  at  the  frigate,  and  a  look  that  satisfied 
everybody  what  she  was  about.  The  Englishman  was  in 


178  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

stays,  in  the  very  act  of  hauling  his  head-yards,  a  certain 
sign  he  was  a  quick  and  sure-working  fellow,  since  this 
manoeuvre  had  been  performed  against  a  smart  sea,  and 
under  double-reefed  topsails.  He  must  have  made  us,  just 
as  we  lost  sight  of  him,  and  was  about  to  shake  out  his 
reefs. 

On  this  occasion,  the  frigate  may  have  been  visible  from 
our  decks  three  minutes.  I  watched  all  her  movements,  as 
the  cat  watches  the  mouse.  In  the  first  place  her  reefs 
were  shaken  out,  as  the  ship's  bows  fell  off  far  enough  to 
get  the  sea  on  the  right  side  of  them,  and  her  topsails  ap 
peared  to  me  to  be  mast-headed  by  instinct,  or  as  the  bird 
extends  its  wings.  The  fore  and  main-top-gallant  sails  were 
fluttering  in  the  breeze  at  this  very  moment, — it  blew  rather 
loo  fresh  for  the  mizen, — and  then  their  bosoms  were  dis 
tended,  and  their  bowlines  hauled.  How  the  fore  and  main- 
tacks  got  aboard  I  could  not  tell,  though  it  was  done  while 
my  eyes  were  on  the  upper  sails.  I  caught  a  glimpse  of 
the  fore-sheet,  however,  as  the  clew  was  first  flapping  vio 
lently,  and  then  was  brought  under  the  restraint  of  its  own 
proper,  powerful  purchase.  The  spanker  had  been  hauled 
out  previously,  to  help  the  ship  in  tacking. 

There  was  no  mistaking  all  this.  We  were  seen,  and 
chased  ;  everything  on  board  the  frigate  being  instantly  and 
accurately  trimmed,  "  full  and  by."  She  looked  up  into 
our  wake,  and  I  knew  must  soon  overtake  a  heavily-laden 
ship  like  the  Dawn,  in  the  style  in  which  she  was  worked 
and  handled.  Under  the  circumstances,  therefore,  I  mo 
tioned  Marble  to  follow  me  aft,  where  we  consulted  together, 
touching  our  future  proceedings.  I  confess  I  was  disposed 
to  shorten  sail,  and  let  the  cruiser  come  along-side;  but 
Marble,  as  usual,  was  for  holding  on. 

"  We  are  bound  to  Hamburg,"  said  the  mate,  "  which 
lies,  hereaway,  on  our  lee-beam,  and  no  man  has  a  right  to 
complain  of  our  steering  our  course.  The  mist  has  shut 
the  frigate  in  again,  and,  it  being  very  certain  he  will  over 
haul  us  on  a  bowline,  I  advise  you,  Miles,  to  lay  the  yards 
perfectly  square,  edge  away  two  points  more,  and  set  the 
weather  stun'-sails.  If  we  do  not  open  John  very  soon 
again,  we  may  be  off  three  or  four  miles  to  leeward  before 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  179 

he  learns  where  we  are,  and  then,  you  know,  a  *  starn- 
chase'  is  always  a  *  long-chase.' " 

This  was  good  advice,  and  I  determined  to  follow  it.  It 
blew  rather  fresh  at  the  instant,  and  the  Dawn  began  to 
plunge  through  the  seas  at  a  famous  rate  as  soon  as  she 
felt  the  drag  of  the  studding-sails.  We  were  now  running 
on  a  course  that  made  an  obtuse  angle  with  that  of  the  fri 
gate,  and  there  was  the  possibility  of  so  far  increasing  our 
distance  as  to  get  beyond  the  range  of  the  openings  of  the 
mist,  ere  our  expedient  were  discovered.  So  long  did  the 
density  of  the  atmosphere  continue,  indeed,  that  my  hopes 
were  beginning  to  be  strong,  just  as  one  of  our  people  called 
out  "  the  frigate !"  This  time  she  was  seen  directly  astern 
of  us,  and  nearly  two  miles  distant !  Such  had  been  our 
gain,  that  ten  minutes  longer  would  have  carried  us  clear. 
As  we  now  saw  her,  I  felt  certain  she  would  soon  see  us, 
eyes  being  on  the  look-out  on  board  her,  beyond  a  question. 
Nevertheless,  the  cruiser  was  still  on  a  bow-line,  standing 
on  the  course  on  which  we  had  been  last  seen. 

This  lasted  but  a  moment,  however.  Presently  the  Eng 
lishman's  bow  fell  off,  and  by  the  time  he  was  dead  before 
the  wind,  we  could  see  his  studding-sails  flapping  in  the  air, 
as  they  were  in  the  act  of  being  distended,  by  means  of  hal 
yards,  tacks  and  sheets,  all  going  at  once.  The  mist  shut 
in  the  ship  again  before  all  this  could  be  executed.  What 
was  to  be  done  next  ?  Marble  said,  as  we  were  not  on  our 
precise  course,  it  might  serve  a  good  turn  to  bring  the  wind 
on  our  starboard  quarter,  set  all  the  studding-sails  we  could 
carry  on  the  same  side,  and  run  off  east-north-east :  I  in 
clined  to  this  opinion,  and  the  necessary  changes  were 
made  forthwith.  The  wind  and  mist  increased,  and  away 
we  went,  on  a  diverging  line  from  the  course  of  the  Eng 
lishman,  at  the  rate  of  quite  ten  knots  in  the  hour.  This 
lasted  fully  forty  minutes,  and  all  hands  of  us  fancied  we 
had  at  last  given  the  cruiser  the  slip.  Jokes  and  chuckling 
flew  about  among  the  men,  as  usual,  and  everybody  began 
to  feel  as  happy  as  success  could  make  us,  when  the  dark 
veil  lifted  at  the  south-west ;  the  sun  was  seen  struggling 
hrough  the  clouds,  the  vapour  dispersed,  and  gradually  the 
whole  curtain  which  had  concealed  the  ocean  throughout 
that  morning  arose,  extending  the  view  around  the  ship, 


180  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

little  by  little,  until  nothing  limited  it  but  the  natural  hori 
zon. 

The  anxiety  with  which  we  watched  this  slow  rising  of 
the  curtain  need  scarcely  be  described.  Every  eye  was 
turned  eagerly  in  the  direction  in  which  its  owner  expected 
to  find  the  frigate,  and  great  was  our  satisfaction  as  mile 
after  mile  opened  in  the  circle  around  us,  without  bringing 
her  beautiful  proportions  within  its  range.  But  this  could 
not  last  for  ever,  there  not  being  sufficient  time  to  carry  so 
large  a  vessel  over  the  curvature  of  the  ocean's  surface. 
As  usual,  Marble  saw  her  first.  She  had  fairly  passed  to 
leeward  of  us,  and  was  quite  two  leagues  distant,  driving 
ahead  with  the  speed  of  a  race-horsfi.  ~  With  a  clear  hori 
zon,  an  open  ocean,  a  stiff  breeze,  and  hours  of  daylight,  it 
was  hopeless  to  attempt  escape  from  as  fast  a  vessel  as  the 
stranger,  and  I  now  determined  to  put  the  Dawn  on  her  true 
course,  and  trust  altogether  to  the  goodness  of  my  cause ; 
heeis  being  out  of  the  question.  The  reader  who  will  do 
me  the  favour  to  peruse  the  succeeding  chapter,  will  l^arn 
the  result  of  this  resolution. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

"  Whom  have  we  here  ?  Buckingham,  to  disturb  mo  7 
The  King  hath  sent  him,  sure :  I  must  dissemble." 

King  Henry  VI. 

AT  first,  the  frigate  took  single  reefs  in  her  topsails,  set 
topgallant-sails  over  them,  and  hauled  up  on  taut  bow-lines. 
But  seeing  no  signs  of  our  studding-sails  coming  down,  she 
shook  out  her  reefs,  squared  her  yards,  set  topmast  studding- 
sails,  and  kept  off  to  a  course  that  would  be  certain  to  inter 
cept  us.  She  was  up  on  our  line  of  sailing  some  little  time 
before  we  got  down  to  her,  and  she  kept  standing  off  and 
on,  hauling  up  her  courses,  and  furling  her  topgallant-sails, 
and  hauling*  down  all  of  her  light  sails,  the  jib  excepted 
As  for  the  Dawn,  she  kept  steadily  on,  carrying  everything 
she  could  bear.  We  had  topmast  and  lower  studding-sails, 
and  not  a  tack  or  sheet  had  been  touched  when  we  got  wr.liir 


MILES     WALLING  FOR  D.  181 

a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  frigate.  The  Englishman  now 
showed  his  colours,  when  we  let  him  see  the  stars  and  stripes. 
Still  no  sail  was  touched  on  board  us.  As  if  surprised  at 
our  obstinacy,  John  Bull  let  fly  a  chase-gun,  taking  good 
care  not  to  send  the  shot  very  near  us.  I  thought  it  time, 
now,  to  shorten  sail  and  to  pretend  to  see  him.  We  began 
to  haul  down  our  studding-sails,  merchant-fashion,  and  were 
fairly  alongside  of  the  frigate  before  even  this  preliminary 
step  to  heaving-to  was  effected.  As  we  approached,  the 
frigate  bore  up,  and  ran  off  in  company  with  us,  keeping  a 
hundred  fathoms  distance  from  us,  and  watching  us  closely. 
At  this  instant,  I  ordered  the  topgallant-sails  settled  on  the 
caps,  as  a  sign  we  intended  to  let  him  board  us. 

At  length,  having  reduced  the  sail  to  the  three  topsails, 
reefed,  I  hove-to  the  Dawn,  and  waited  for  a  visit  from  the 
Englishman's  boat.  As  soon  as  the  frigate  saw  us  fairly 
motionless,  she  shot  up  on  our  weather  quarter,  half  a  cable's 
length  distant,  swung  her  long,  saucy-looking  yards,  and 
lay-to  herself.  At  the  same  instant,  her  lee-quarter  boat 
dropped  into  the  water,  with  the  crew  in  it,  a  boy  of  a  mid 
shipman  scrambled  down  the  ship's  side  and  entered  it  also, 
a  lieutenant  followed,  when  away  the  cockle  of  a  thing 
swept  on  the  crest  of  a  sea,  and  was  soon  pulling  round 
under  our  stern.  I  stood  on  the  lee  quarter,  examining  my 
visitors,  as  they  struggled  against  the  swell,  in  order  to  get 
a  boat-hook  into  our  main  chains.  The  men  were  like  any 
other  man-of-war's  men,  neat,  sturdy,  and  submissive  in 
air.  The  reefer  was  a  well-dressed  boy,  evidently  a  gentle 
man's  son ;  but  the  lieutenant  was  one  of  those  old  weather- 
beaten  sea-dogs,  who  are  seldom  employed  in  boats,  unless 
something  more  than  common  is  to  be  done.  He  was  a 
man  of  forty,  hard-featured,  pock-marked,  red-faced,  and 
scowling.  I  afterwards  ascertained  he  was  the  son  of  some 
underling  about  the  Portsmouth  dock-yard,  who  had  worked 
his  way  up  to  a  lieutenancy,  and  owed  his  advancement 
principally  to  his  readiness  in  impressing  seamen.  His 
name  was  Sennit. 

We  threw  Mr.  Sennit  a  rope,  as  a  matter  of  course,  and 

Marble  met  him  at  the  gangway  with  the  usual  civilities.    I 

was  amused  with  the  meeting  between  these  men,  who  had 

strictly  that  analogy  to  each  other  which  is  well  described 

16 


182  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

as  "diamond  cut  diamond."  Each  was  dogmatical,  posi' 
live,  and  full  of  nautical  conceit,  in  his  own  fashion ;  ana 
each  hated  the  other's  country  as  heartily  as  man  could 
hate,  while  both  despised  Frenchmen.  But  Sennit  knew  a 
mate  from  a  master,  at  a  glance;  and,  without  noticing 
Marble's  sea-bow,  a  slight  for  which  Marble  did  not  soon 
forgive  him,  he  walked  directly  aft  to  me,  not  well  pleased, 
as  I  thought,  that  a  ship-master  had  neglected  to  be  at  the 
gangway  to  meet  a  sea  lieutenant. 

'*  Your  servant,  sir,"  commenced  Mr.  Sennit,  condescend 
ing  to  notice  my  bow ;  "  your  servant,  sir ;  I  suppose  we 
owe  the  pleasure  of  your  company,  just  now,  to  the  circum 
stance  of  the  weather's  clearing." 

This  sounded  hostile  from  the  go  off;  and  I  was  deter 
mined  to  give  as  good  as  I  received. 

*'  Quite  likely,  sir,"  was  my  answer,  uttered  as  coolly  as 
I  could  speak — "  I  do  not  think  you  got  much  the  advan 
tage,  as  long  as  there  was  thick  weather." 

"  Ay,  you  're  a  famous  fellow  at  hide  and  go  seek,  and  I 
do  not  doubt  would  make  a  long  chase  in  a  dark  night. 
But  his  Majesty's  ship,  Speedy,  is  not  to  be  dodged  by  a 
Yankee." 

"  So  it  would  seem,  sir,  by  your  present  success." 

"  Men  seldom  run  away  without  there  is  a  cause  for  it. 
It 's  my  business  to  find  out  the  reason  why  you  have  at 
tempted  it ;  so,  sir,  I  will  thank  you  for  the  name  of  your 
ship,  to  begin  with  ?" 

"  The  Dawn,  of  New  York." 

"  Ay,  full-blooded  Yankee — I  knew  you  were  New  Eng 
land,  by  your  tricks." 

"  New  York  is  not  in  New  England  ;  nor  do  we  call  a 
New  York  ship,  a  Yankee,"  put  in  Marble. 

"  Ay,  ay  —  if  one  were  to  believe  all  you  mates  from 
the  t'  other  side,  say,  he  would  soon  fancy  that  King  George 
held  his  throne  by  virtue  of  a  commission  from  President 
Washington." 

"  President  Washington  is  dead,  Heaven  bless  him  I"  re 
torted  Marble — "  and  if  one  were  to  believe  half  of  wha 
you  English  say,  he  would  soon  fancy  that  President  Jef 
ferson  held  his  office  as  one  of  King  George's  waiting  men." 

I  made  a  sign  for  Marble  to  be  silent,  and  intimated  to 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  183 

.he  lieutenant  I  was  ready  to  answer  any  further  inquiries 
he  wished  to  make.  Sennit  did  not  proceed,  however,  with 
out  giving  a  significant  look  at  the  mate,  which  to  me,  seemed 
to  say,  "  I  have  pressed  a  mate  in  my  time/' 

"  Well,  sir,  the  Dawn,  of  New  York,"  he  continued,  no 
ting  the  name  in  his  pocket-book  — "  How  are  you  called 
yourself?" 

"  The  Dawn,  of  New  York,  Miles  Wallingford,  master." 

"  Miles  Wallingford,  master.  Where  from,  whither  bound, 
and  with  what  laden  ?" 

"From  New  York;  bound  to  Hamburg;  cargo  sugars, 
coffee,  and  cochineal." 

"A  very  valuable  cargo,  sir,"  observed  Mr.  Sennit,  a 
little  drily.  "  I  wish  for  your  sake,  it  had  been  going  to  any 
other  part  of  the  world,  as  this  last  war  has  sent  the  French 
into  that  part  of  Germany,  and  Hamburg  is  suspected  of 
being  rather  too  much  under  Boney's  influence." 

"  And  were  we  bound  to  Bordeaux,  sir,  what  power  have 
you  to  stop  a  neutral,  at  this  distance  at  sea  ?" 

"  If  you  put  it  on  power,  Mr.  Wallingford,  you  depend 
on  a  crutch  that  will  betray  you.  We  have  power  enough 
to  eat  you,  should  that  be  necessary — I  suppose  you  mean 
right." 

"  I  shaWhnot  dispute  with  you,  sir,  about  words." 

"  Well,  to  prove  to  you  that  I  am  as  amicably  disposed 
as  yourself,  I  will  say  no  more  on  the  subject.  With  your 
permission,  I  will  now  examine  your  papers ;  and  to  show 
you  that  I  feel  myself  among  friends,  I  will  first  send  my 
own  boat  back  to  the  Speedy." 

I  was  infinitely  disgusted  with  this  man's  manner.  It 
had  the  vulgar  sort  of  witticism  about  even  his  air,  that 
he  so  much  affected  in  his  speech  ;  the  whole  being  deform 
ed  by  a  species  of  sly  malignancy,  that  rendered  him  as 
offensive  as  he  seemed  to  me  to  be  dangerous.  I  could  not 
refuse  to  let  a  belligerent  look  at  my  papers,  however,  and 
went  below  to  get  them,  while  Seriuit  ^ave  some  private 
orders  to  his  reefer,  and  sent  him  away  to  the  frigate. 

While  on  this  subject,  the  reader  must  excuse  an  old 
man's  propensity  to  gossip,  if  I  say  a  word  on  the  general 
question  of  the  right  of  search.  As  for  the  pretence  that 
was  set  up  by  some  of  the  advocates  of  impressment  out  of 


184  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

neutral  ships,  which  laid  down  the  position,  that  the  belli* 
gerent  being  on  board  in  the  exercise  of  an  undoubted  right 
to  inquire  into  the  character  of  the  ship  and  cargo,  he 
took  with  him  the  right  to  lay  hands  on  all  the  subjects  of 
his  own  sovereign  he  might  happen  to  find  there,  it  is  not 
worthy  of  a  serious  reply.  Because  a  man  has  a  right  to 
take  the  step  preliminary  to  the  discharge  of  an  admitted 
power,  as  an  incident  of  that  power,  it  does  not  follow  that 
he  can  make  the  incident  a  principle,  and  convert  it  into  a 
justification  of  acts,  unlawful  in  themselves.  On  this  head, 
therefore,  I  shall  say  nothing,  holding  it  to  be  beyond  dis 
pute  among  those  who  are  competent  to  speak  on  the  sub 
ject  at  all.  But  the  abuse  of  that  admitted  power  to  board 
and  ascertain  the  character  of  a  ship,  has  created  so  lively 
a  feeling  in  us  Americans,  as  to  induce  us  to  forego  some 
of  the  wholesome  principles  that  are  necessary  to  the  well- 
being  of  all  civilized  nations.  It  is  thus,  in  my  judgment, 
that  we  have  quite  recently  and  erroneously  laid  down  the 
doctrine  that  foreign  vessels  of  war  shall  not  board  Ameri 
can  ships  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  in  a  time  of  peace,  in  or 
der  to  ascertain  their  character. 

On  this  subject  I  intend  to  speak  plainly.  In  the  first 
place,  I  lay  no  claim  to  that  spurious  patriotism  which  says, 
"  our  country,  right  or  wrong."  This  may  do»4br  the  rab 
ble  ;  but  it  will  not  do  for  God,  to  whom  our  first  and  high 
est  obligations  are  due.  Neither  country,  nor  man,  can 
justify  that  which  is  wrong ;  and  I  conceive  it  to  be  wrong, 
in  a  political  if  not  in  a  moral  sense,  to  deny  a  vessel  of 
war  the  privilege  which  England  here  claims.  I  can  see 
but  one  plausible  argument  against  it,  and  that  is  founded 
on  the  abuses  which  may  arise  from  the  practice.  But  it 
will  not  do  to  anticipate  abuses  in  this  instance,  more  than 
in  any  other.  Every  right,  whether  national  or  interna 
tional,  may  be  abused  in  its  exercise ;  and  the  argument,  if 
good  for  anything,  is  as  good  against  every  other  right  of 
international  law,  as  it  is  against  this.  Abuse,  after  it  has 
occurred,  might  be  a  justifiable  reason  for  suspending  the 
exercise  of  an  admitted  right,  until  some  remedies  were  ap 
plied  to  prevent  their  recurrence,  but  it  can  never  be  urged 
as  a  proper  argument  against  the  right  itself.  If  abuses 
occur,  we  can  get  them  remedied  by  proper  representations; 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  185 

and,  if  these  last  fail,  we  have  the  usual  appeal  of  nations. 
As  well  might  it  be  said,  the  law  of  the  land  shall  not  be 
administered,  because  the  sheriff's  officers  are  guilty  of 
abuses,  as  to  say  the  law  of  nations  shall  cease  because  we 
apprehend  that  certain  commercial  rivalries  may  induce 
others  to  transcend  them.  When  the  wrong  is  done,  it  will 
be  time  enough  to  seek  the  remedy. 

That  it  is  the  right  of  a  vessel  of  war  to  ascertain  the 
character  of  a  ship  at  sea,  is  dependent  on  her  right  to  ar 
rest  a  pirate,  for  instance.  In  what  manner  can  this  be 
done,  if  a  pirate  can  obtain  impunity,  by  simply  hoisting 
the  flag  of  some  other  country,  which  the  cruiser  is  obliged 
to  respect  1  All  that  the  latter  asks  is  the  power  to  ascer 
tain  if  that  flag  is  not  an  imposition ;  and  this  much  every 
regularly  commissioned  public  ship  should  be  permitted  to 
do,  in  the  interests  of  civilization,  and  in  maintenance  of 
the  police  of  the  seas. 

The  argument  on  the  other  side  goes  the  length  of  say 
ing,  that  a  public  cruiser  is  in  the  situation  of  a  sheriff's 
officer  on  shore,  who  is  compelled  to  arrest  his  prisoner  on 
his  own  responsibility.  In  the  first  place,  it  may  be  ques 
tioned  if  the  dogma  of  the  common  law  which  asserts  the 
privilege  of  the  citizen  to  conceal  his  name,  is  worthy  of  a 
truly  enlightened  political  freedom.  It  must  not  be  forgot 
ten  that  liberty  first  took  the  aspect  of  franchises,  in  which 
men  sought  protection  from  the  abuses  of  power  in  any 
manner  they  could,  and  often  without  regarding  the  justness 
of  the  general  principles  with  which  they  were  connected  ; 
confusion  in  these  principles  arising  as  a  consequence.  But, 
admitting  the  dogma  of  the  common  law  to  be  as  inherently 
wise,  as  it  is  confessedly  a  practice,  there  is  no  parallel  in  the 
necessity  of  the  case  of  an  arrest  on  shore  and  of  an  arrest 
at  sea.  In  the  former  instance  the  officer  may  apply  to 
witnesses ; — he  has  the  man  before  him,  and  compares  him 
with  the  description  of  the  criminal ;  and,  should  he  make 
an  erroneous  arrest,  under  misleading  circumstances,  his 
punishment  would  be  merely  nominal — in  many  cases,  na- 
thing.  But  the  common  law,  whilst  it  gives  the  subject 
this  protection,  does  not  deny  the  right  of  tne  officer  to  ar 
rest.  It  only  punishes  the  abuse  of  this  power,  and  that  is 
16* 


186  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

precisely  what  nations  ought  to  do,  in  a  case  of  the  abuse 
of  the  right  to  examine  a  merchantman. 

The  vessel  of  war  cannot  apply  to  witnesses,  and  cannot 
judge  of  national  character  by  mere  external  appearances, 
since  an  American-built  ship  can  be  sailed  by  Portuguese. 
The  actual  necessities  of  the  case  are  in  favour  of  the  pre 
sent  English  claim,  as  well  as  that  great  governing  principle, 
which  says  that  no  great  or  principal  right  can  exist,  in  in- 
ternational  law,  without  carrying  with  it  all  the  subordinate 
privileges  which  are  necessary  to  its  discreet  exercise. 

Thus  much  I  could  not  refrain  from  saying,  not  that  I 
think  John  Bull  is  very  often  right  in  his  controversies  with 
ourselves,  but  because  I  think,  in  this  case,  he  is ;  and  be 
cause  I  believe  it  far  safer,  in  the  long  run,  for  a  nation,  or 
an  individual,  to  have  justice  on  his  side,  than  always  to 
carry  his  point. 

I  was  soon  on  deck,  carrying  my  writing-desk  under  my 
arm,  Mr.  Sennit  preferring  to  make  his  examination  in  the 
open  air,  to  making  it  below.  He  read  the  clearance  and 
manifest  with  great  attention.  Afterwards  he  asked  for  the 
shipping  articles.  I  could  see  that  he  examined  the  names 
of  the  crew  with  eagerness,  for  the  man  was  in  his  element 
when  adding  a  new  hand  to  his  frigate's  crew. 

"  Let  me  see  this  Nebuchadnezzar  Clawbonny,  Mr.  Wal- 
lingford,"  he  said,  chuckling.  "  The  name  has  an  alias  in 
its  very  absurdity,  and  I  doubt  not  I  shall  see  a  countryman 
— perhaps  a  townsman.'' 

"  By  turning  your  head,  sir,  you  can  easily  see  the  man. 
He  is  at  the  wheel." 

"  A  black  ! — umph — yes ;  those  fellows  do  sometimes  sail 
under  droll  titles.  I  do  not  think  the  lad  was  born  at  Gos- 
port." 

"He  was  born  in  my  father's  house,  sir,  and  is  my 
slave." 

"  Slave !  A  pretty  word  in  the  mouth  of  a  free  and  in 
dependent  son  of  liberty,  Mr.  Wallingford.  It  is  lucky  you 
are  not  bound  to  that  land  of  despotism,  old  England,  or  you 
might  see  the  fetters  fall  from  about  the  chap's  limbs." 

I  was  nettled,  for  I  felt  there  was  some  justice  in  this  sar 
casm,  and  this,  too,  at  the  very  moment  I  felt  it  was  only 
half-merited :  and  not  at  all,  perhaps,  from  an  Englishman. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD  187 

But  Sennit  knew  as  much  of  the  history  of  my  country  as 
he  did  of  his  own,  having  obtained  all  he  had  learned  of 
either  out  of  newspapers.  Nevertheless,  I  succeeded  in 
keeping  silent. 

"  Nathan  Hitchcock ;  this  chap  has  a  suspiciously  Yan 
kee  name ;  will  you  let  me  see  Aim,  sir,"  observed  the  lieu 
tenant. 

"  The  chap's  name,  then,  does  him  no  more  than  justice, 
for  I  believe  he  is  strictly  what  we  call  a  Yankee." 

Nathan  came  aft  at  the  call  of  the  second-mate,  and  Sen 
nit  no  sooner  saw  him  than  he  told  him  to  go  forward  again. 
It  was  easy  to  see  that  the  man  was  perfectly  able  to  dis 
tinguish,  by  means  of  the  eye  alone,  between  the  people  of 
the  two  countries,  though  the  eye  would  sometimes  deceive 
even  the  most  practised  judges.  As  the  Speedy  was  not 
much  in  want  of  men,  he  was  disposed  not  to  lay  his  hands 
on  any  but  his  own  countrymen. 

"  I  shall  have  to  ask  you,  sir,  to  muster  all  your  people 
in  the  gangway,"  said  Sennit,  rising,  as  he  passed  me  the 
ship's  papers.  "  I  am  only  a  supernumerary  of  the  Speedy, 
and  I  expect  we  shall  soon  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  her 
first  on  board,  the  Honourable  Mr.  Powlett.  We  are  a 
lob  ship,  having  Lord  Harry  Dermond  for  our  captain, 
and  lots  of  younger  sons  in  the  cock-pit." 

I  cared  little  who  commanded  or  officered  the  Speedy,  but 
I  felt  all  the  degradation  of  submitting  to  have  my  crew 
mustered  by  a  foreign  officer,  and  this,  too,  with  the  avowed 
object  of  carrying  away  such  portions  of  them  as  he  might 
see  fit  to  decide  were  British  subjects.  In  my  judgment  it 
would  have  been  much  more  creditable  and  much  wiser  for 
the  young  Hercules  to  have  made  an  effort  to  use  his  club, 
in  resisting  such  an  offensive  and  unjustifiable  assumption 
of  power,  than  to  be  setting  up  doubtful  claims  to  establish 
principles  of  public  law  that  will  render  the  exercise  of 
some  of  the  most  useful  of  all  international  rights  perfectly 
nugatory.  I  felt  a  disposition  to  refuse  compliance  with 
Sennit's  request,  and  did  the  result  only  affect  myself  I  think 
I  should  have  done  so ;  but,  conscious  that  my  men  would 
be  the  sufferers,  I  thought  it  more  prudent  to  comply.  Ac 
cordingly,  all  the  Dawn's  people  were  ordered  to  muster  neai 
the  quarter-deck. 


188  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

While  I  endeavour  to  do  justice  to  principles,  I  wish  tc 
do  no  injustice  to  Sennit.  To  own  the  truth,  this  man  picked 
out  the  Englishman  and  Irishman  as  soon  as  each  had 
answered  his  first  questions.  They  were  ordered  to  gel 
their  things  ready  to  go  on  board  the  Speedy,  and  1  was 
coolly  directed  to  pay  them  any  wages  that  might  be  due. 
Marble  was  standing  near  when  this  command  was  given  ; 
and  seeing  disgust,  most  likely,  in  my  countenance,  he  took 
on  himself  the  office  of  replying : 

"  You  think  accounts  should  be  balanced,  then,  before 
these  men  quit  the  ship?"  he  asked,  significantly. 

"  I  do,  sir ;  and  it 's  my  duty  to  see  it  done.  I  will  thank 
you  to  attend  to  it  at  once,"  returned  the  lieutenant. 

"  Well,  sir,  that  being  the  case,  we  shall  be  receivers, 
instead  of  payers.  By  looking  at  the  shipping  articles,  you 
will  see  that  each  of  these  men  received  fifty  dollars,  or  two 
months'  advance,"  [seamen's  wages  were  as  high,  fre 
quently,  in  that  day,  as  twenty  or  thirty  dollars ;]  "  and 
quite  half  of  the  *  dead-horse'  remains  to  be  worked  out. 
We  will,  therefore,  thank  His  Majesty  to  pay  us  the  odd 
twenty-five  dollars  for  each  of  the  men." 

"  What  countryman  are  you  ?"  demanded  the  lieutenant, 
with  a  menacing  look.  "  Cornish,  by  your  impudence : 
have  a  care,  sir ;  I  have  carried  off  mates,  before  now,  in 
my  day." 

"  I  came  from  the  land  of  tomb-stones,  which  is  an  advan 
tage;  as  I  know  the  road  we  all  must  travel,  sooner  or  later. 
My  name  is  Marble,  at  your  service ;  and  there's  a  hard 
natur'  under  it,  as  you  '11  find  on  trial." 

Just  at  this  moment,  the  frigate's  boat  came  round  her 
stern,  carrying  the  Hon.  Mr.  Powlett,  or  the  gentleman  whom 
Sennit  had  announced  as  her  first-lieutenant.  I  thought  the 
rising  anger  of  the  last  was  a  little  subdued  by  the  appear 
ance  of  his  senior  officers :  social  position  and  private  rank 
making  even  a  greater  difference  between  the  two,  than 
mere  date  of  commission.  Sennit  suppressed  his  wrath, 
therefore;  though  I  make  no  doubt  the  resentment  he  felt  at 
the  contumelious  manner  of  my  mate,  had  no  little  influence 
on  what  subsequently  occurred.  As  things  were,  he  waited, 
before  he  proceeded  any  further,  for  the  Speedy 's  boat  to 
come  alongside. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  189 

Mr.  Powlett  turned  out  to  be  a  very  different  sort  of  per- 
son  from  his  brother  lieutenant.  There  was  no  mistaking 
him  for  anything  but  a  gentleman,  or  for  a  sailor.  Beyond 
a  question,  he  owed  his  rank  in  his  ship  to  family  influence, 
and  he  was  one  of  those  scions  of  aristocracy  (by  no  means 
the  rule,  however,  among  the  high-born  of  England)  who 
never  was  fit  for  anything  but  a  carpet-knight,  though 
trained  to  the  seas.  As  I  afterwards  learned,  his  father 
held  high  ministerial  rank ;  a  circumstance  that  accounted 
for  his  being  the  first-lieutenant  of  a  six-and-thirty,  at 
twenty,  with  a  supernumerary  lieutenant  under  him  who 
had  been  a  sailor  some  years  before  he  was  born.  But,  the 
captain  of  the  Speedy,  himself,  Lord  Harry  Dermond,  was 
only  four-and-twenty ;  though  he  had  commanded  his  ship 
two  years,  and  fought  one  very  creditable  action  in  her. 

After  making  my  best  bow  to  Mr.  Powlett,  and  receiving 
a  very  gentleman-like  salutation  in  return,  Sennit  led  his 
brother  officer  aside,  and  they  had  a  private  conference  of 
some  little  length  together. 

"  I  shall  not  meddle  with  the  crew,  Sennit,"  I  overheard 
Powlett  say,  in  a  sort  of  complaining  tone,  as  he  walked 
away  from  his  companion.  "  Really,  I  cannot  become  the 
master  of  a  press-gang,  though  the  Speedy  had  to  be  worked 
by  her  officers.  You  are  used  to  this  business,  and  I  leave 
it  all  to  you." 

I  understood  this  to  be  a  carte  blanche  to  Sennit  to  carry 
off  as  many  of  my  people  as  he  saw  fit;  there  being  nothing 
novel  or  surprising  in  men's  tolerating  in  others,  acts  they 
would  disdain  to  perform  in  person.  As  soon  as  he  left  his 
junior  in  rank,  the  youthful  first-lieutenant  approached  me. 
I  call  him  youthful,  for  he  appeared  even  younger  than  he 
was,  though  I  myself  had  commanded  a  ship  when  only  of 
his  own  age.  It  was  easy  to  see  that  this  young  man  felt 
he  was  employed  on  an  affair  of  some  importance. 

"  It  is  reported  to  us,  on  board  the  Speedy,  sir,'  the  Hon. 
Mr.  Powlett  commenced,  "  that  you  are  bound  to  Ham 
burg?" 

"  To  Hamburg,  sir,  as  my  papers  will  show." 

"  Our  government  regards  all  trade  with  that  part  of  the 
continent  with  great  distrust,  particularly  since  the  late 


100  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

movements  of  the  French.     I  really  wish,  sir,  you  had  not 
been  bound  to  Hamburg." 

"  I  believe  Hamburg  is  still  a  neutral  port,  sir ;  and,  if  it 
were  not,  I  do  not  see  why  an  American  should  not  enter 
it,  until  actually  blockaded." 

"  Ah !  these  are  some  of  your  very  peculiar  American 
ideas  on  such  subjects !  I  cannot  agree  with  you,  however, 
it  being  my  duty  to  obey  my  orders.  Lord  Harry  has  de 
sired  us  to  be  very  rigorous  in  our  examination,  and  I  trust 
you  will  understand  we  must  comply,  however  unpleasant 
it  may  be,  sir.  I  understand,  now,  sugar  and  coffee  are 
exceedingly  suspicious !" 

"  They  are  very  innocent  things  rightly  used,  as  I  hope 
mine  will  be." 

"  Have  you  any  particular  interest  in  the  cargo,  Captain 
Wallingford?" 

"  Only  that  of  owner,  sir.  Both  ship  and  cargo  are  my 
own  private  property." 

"  And  you  seem  to  be  English,  or  American — for,  I  con 
fess  myself  unable  to  tell  the  difference  between  the  people 
of  the  two  countries,  though  I  dare  say  there  is  a  very 
great  difference." 

"  I  am  an  American  by  birth,  as  have  been  my  ancestors 
for  generations." 

"  I  declare  that  is  remarkable !  Well,  I  can  see  no  dif 
ference.  But,  if  you  are  American,  I  do  not  see  why  the 
sugar  and  coffee  are  not  American,  too.  Lord  Harry,  how 
ever,  desired  us  to  be  very  particular  about  these  things,  for 
some  reason  or  other.  Do  you  happen  to  know,  now, 
where  this  sugar  grew  ?" 

"  The  canes  of  which  it  was  made  grew,  I  believe,  in  St. 
Domingo." 

"  St.  Domingo  ! — Is  not  that  a  French  Island  ?" 

"  Certainly,  in  part,  sir  ;  though  the  Spaniards  and  the 
negroes  dispute  the  possession  with  the  French." 

"  I  declare  I  must  send  Lord  Harry  word  of  this  !  I  am 
exceedingly  sorry,  Captain  Walling  ford,  to  detain  your 
ship,  but  my  duty  requires  me  to  send  a  young  gentleman 
on  board  the  Speedy  for  orders." 

As  I  could  urge  no  plausible  objection,  the  young  gentle* 
man  was  again  sent  back  to  the  frigate.  In  the  mean  time, 


MILES     WALLIN  G  FOR  D.  191 

Sennit  had  not  been  idle.  Among  my  crew  were  a  Swede 
and  a  Prussian,  and  botli  these  men  having  acquired  their 
English  in  London  or  Liverpool,  he  affected  to  believe  they 
were  natives  of  the  old  island,  ordering  them  to  get  their 
dunnage  ready  to  go  under  the  pennant.  Neither  of  the 
men,  however,  was  disposed  to  obey  him,  and  when  I  joined 
the  group,  leaving  the  Hon.  Mr.  Powlett  waiting  the  return 
of  his  boat,  on  the  quarter-deck,  I  found  the  three  in  a 
warm  discussion  on  the  subject. 

"  I  '11  tell  you  what  it  is,  Mr.  Wallingford,"  Sennit  cried, 
as  I  approached,  "  we  will  compromise  matters.  Here  are 
two  fellows  who  are  Lancashire  men,  if  the  truth  were 
known,  that  pretend  to  be  Norwegians,  or  Fins,  or  to  come 
from  some  other  outlandish  country  or  other,  and  I  wish  to 
place  them  under  His  Majesty's  pennant,  where  they  pro 
perly  belong ;  as  they  are  so  reluctant  to  receive  this  ho 
nour,  I  will  consent  to  take  that  fine-looking  Kentish  man, 
who  is  worth  them  both  put  together." 

As  this  was  said,  Sennit  pointed  to  Tom  Voorhees,  an 
athletic,  handsome  young  North  River  man,  of  Dutch  ex- 
traction,  a  fellow  who  had  not  a  drop  of  English  blood  in 
his  veins,  and  the  ablest-bodied  and  the  best  seaman  in  the 
Dawn ;  a  fact  that  the  lieutenant's  nautical  tact  had  no. 
been  slow  to  detect. 

"  You  are  asking  me  to  let  you  have  a  man  who  was  born 
within  ten  miles  of  myself,"  I  answered,  "  and  whose  family 
I  know  to  be  American,  for  near  two  centuries." 

"Ay,  ay;  you 're  all  of  old  families  in  America,  as  every 
body  knows.  The  chap  is  English  born,  for  a  hundred 
guineas ;  and  I  could  name  a  spot  in  Kent,  not  ten  miles 
distant  from  that  where  he  first  saw  the  light.  I  do  not  say, 
however,  you  were  not  his  neighbour — for  you  have  a  Dover 
look,  yourself." 

"  You  might  be  less  disposed  to  pleasantry,  sir,  were  this 
a  thirty-six,  or  were  you  and  I  on  shore." 

Sennit  gave  me  a  disdainful  look,  and  terminated  the  af 
fair  by  ordering  Voorhees  to  get  his  chest  ready,  and  to 
join  the  two  other  men  he  had  pressed.  Taking  example, 
however,  from  the  Swede  and  the  Prussian,  Voorhees  walked 
away,  using  no  measures  to  obey.  As  for  myself,  thoroughly 


102  MILES    W  A.  L  LING  FORD. 

disgusted  with  this  man,  a  vulgar  rogue,  I  walked  aft  to  the 
other  lieutenant,  who  was  only  a  gentleman-like  dunce. 

Mr.  Powlett  now  began  to  converse  of  London ;  and  he 
told  me  how  often  he  had  been  at  the  opera  when  last  in 
town, — and  remarked  what  an  exceedingly  delightful  ftte 
champetre  was  lady  somebody's  entertainment  of  that  sort. 
This  occupied  us  until  the  boat  returned,  with  a  very  civil 
request  from  the  captain  of  the  Speedy,  that  I  would  do 
him  the  favour  to  pay  him  a  visit,  bringing  with  me  the 
ship's  papers.  As  this  was  what  no  belligerent  had  a  right 
to  demand,  though  privateersmen  constantly  did  it,  I  could 
comply  or  not.  Fancying  it  might  expedite  matters,  re 
garding  the  civility  of  the  request  as  a  good  omen,  and  feel 
ing  a  desire  to  deal  with  principals,  in  an  affair  thai  was 
very  needlessly  getting  to  be  serious,  I  consented  to  go. 
Marble  was  called,  and  formally  told  to  take  charge  of  the 
ship.  1  could  see  a  smile  of  contempt  on  Sennit's  face,  at 
this  little  ceremony,  though  he  made  no  objection  in  terms. 
I  had  expected  that  the  first-lieutenant  would  go  to  the  fri 
gate  with  me,  but,  after  a  short  consultation  with  his  junior, 
the  last  was  deputed  to  do  me  this  honour. 

Sennit  now  appeared  disposed  to  show  me  every  slight 
and  indignity  it  was  in  his  power  to  manifest.  Like  all  vulgar- 
minded  men,  he  could  not  refrain  from  maltreating  those 
whom  he  designed  to  injure.  He  made  me  precede  him 
into  the  boat,  and  went  up  the  Speedy's  side  first,  himself, 
on  reaching  that  vessel.  His  captain's  conduct  was  very 
different.  Lord  Harry  was  not  a  very  noble  looking  per 
sonage,  as  your  worshippers  of  rank  imagine  nobility  to 
appear,  but  he  was  decidedly  well-mannered ;  and  it  was 
easy  enough  to  see  he  commanded  his  own  ship,  and  was 
admirably  fitted  so  to  do.  I  have  had  occasion  to  learn  that 
there  is  a  vast  deal  of  aristocratic  and  democratic  cant,  on 
the  subject  of  the  appearance,  abilities,  qualities  and  conduct 
of  Europeans  of  birth  and  station.  In  the  first  place,  nature 
has  made  them  very  much  as  she  makes  other  people ;  and 
the  only  physical  difference  there  is  proceeds  from  habit 
and  education.  Then,  as  to  the  enervating  effects  of  aris 
tocracy,  and  noble  effeminacy,  I  have  seen  ten  times  ar 
much  of  it  among  your  counter-jumpers  and  dealers  in  bob 
binet,  as  I  have  seen  in  the  sons  of  dukes  and  princes ;  and, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  193 

in  my  later  days,  circumstances  have  brought  me  much  in 
contact  with  many  of  these  last.  Manliness  of  character 
is  far  more  likely  to  be  the  concomitant  of  aristocratic  birth, 
than  of  democratic,  I  am  afraid ;  for,  while  those  who  enjoy 
the  first  feel  themselves  above  popular  opinion,  those  who 
possess  the  last  bow  to  it,  as  the  Asiatic  slave  bows  to  his 
master.  I  wish  I  could  think  otherwise;  but  experience 
has  convinced  me  of  these  facts,  and  I  have  learned  to  feel 
the  truth  of  an  axiom  that  is  getting  to  be  somewhat  familiar 
among  ourselves,  viz.  — "  that  it  takes  an  aristocrat  to 
make  a  true  democrat."  Certain  I  am,  that  all  the  real, 
manly,  independent  democrats,  I  have  ever  known  in  Ame 
rica,  have  been  accused  of  aristocracy,  and  this  simply  be 
cause  they  were  disposed  to  carry  out  their  principles,  and 
not  to  let  that  imperious  sovereign,  "  the  neighbourhood," 
play  the  tyrant  over  them.  As  for  personal  merit,  quite  as 
fair  a  proportion  of  talent  is  found  among  the  well-born  as 
among  the  low;  and  he  is  but  an  ad  captandum  vulgus  sort 
of  a  philosopher  who  holds  the  contrary  doctrine.  Talley 
rand  was  of  one  of  the  most  ancient  and  illustrious  houses 
of  Europe,  as  was  Turenne;  while  Mansfield,  Erskine, 
Grey,  Wellington,  and  a  host  of  Englishmen  of  mark  of 
our  time,  come  of  noble  blood.  No — no — The  cause  of 
free  institutions  has  much  higher  and  much  juster  distinc 
tions  to  boast  of,  than  this  imaginary  superiority  of  the 
humbly  born  over  those  who  come  of  ancient  stock. 

Lord  Harry  Dermond  received  me  just  as  one  of  his 
station  ought  to  receive  one  of  mine ;  politely,  without  in 
the  least  compromising  his  own  dignity.  There  was  a 
good-natured  smile  on  his  face,  of  which,  at  first,  I  did  not 
know  what  to  make.  He  had  a  private  conversation  with 
Sennit,  too ;  but  the  smile  underwent  no  change.  In  the 
end,  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  habitual  with  him, 
and  meant  nothing.  But,  though  so  much  disposed  to  smile, 
Lord  Harry  Dermond  was  equally  disposed  to  listen  to  every 
suggestion  of  Sennit,  that  was  likely  to  favour  the  main 
chance.  Prize-money  is  certainly  a  great  stain  on  the  chiv 
alry  of  all  navies,  but  it  is  a  stain  with  which  the  noble 
wishes  to  be  as  deeply  dyed  as  the  plebeian.  Human  nature 
is  singularly  homogeneous  on  the  subject  of  money ;  and 
younger-son  nature,  in  the  lands  of  majorats  and  entails, 


194  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

enjoys  a  liveliness  of  longing  on  the  subject,  that  is  quite 
as  conspicuous  as  the  rapacity  of  the  veriest  plebeian  who 
•ever  picked  a  pocket. 

"  I  am  very  sorry,  Captain  Wallingford,"  Captain  Lord 
Harry  Dermond  observed  to  me,  when  his  private  confer 
ence  with  Sennit  was  ended,  and  altogether  superior  to  the 
weakness  of  Powlett,  who  would  have  discussed  the  point, 
"  that  it  is  my  duty  to  send  your  ship  into  Plymouth.  The 
French  have  got  such  an  ascendency  on  the  continent,  that 
we  are  obliged  to  use  every  act  of  vigilance"  to  counteract 
them :  then,  your  cargo  is  of  enemy's  growth." 

"As  for  the  ascendency,  my  lord,  you  will  see  we  Amer 
icans  have  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  and  my  cargo,  being  ne 
cessarily  of  last  year's  crops,  must  have  been  grown  and 
manufactured  in  a  time  of  general  peace.  If  it  were  not, 
I  do  not  conceive  it  would  legalize  my  capture." 

"  We  must  leave  Sir  William  Scott  to  decide  that,  my 
good  sir,"  answered  the  captain,  with  his  customary  smile ; 
"  and  there  is  no  use  in  our  discussing  the  matter.  An  un 
pleasant  duty" — as  if  he  thought  the  chance  of  putting  two 
or  three  thousand  pounds  in  his  pocket,  unpleasant ! — "  an 
unpleasant  duty,  however,  need  not  be  performed  in  a  dis 
agreeable  manner.  If  you  will  point  out  what  portion  of 
your  people  you  could  wish  to  keep  in  your  ship,  it  sha!1  be 
attended  to.  Of  course,  you  remain  by  your  property  your 
self;  and  I  confess,  whatever  may  be  done  with  the  cargo, 
I  think  the  ship  will  be  liberated.  As  the  day  is  advancing, 
and  it  will  require  some  little  time  to  exchange  the  people, 
I  should  be  exceedingly  happy  if  you  would  do  me  the  favour 
to  lunch  in  my  cabin." 

This  was  gentlemanly  conduct,  if  it  were  not  lawful.  I 
could  foresee  a  plenty  of  evil  consequences  to  myself  in  the 
delay,  though  I  own  I  had  no  great  apprehensions  of  a  con 
demnation.  There  was  my  note  to  John  Wallingford  to 
meet,  and  two  months'  detention  might  keep  me  so  long  from 
home,  as  to  put  the  payment  at  maturity  quite  out  of  the 
question.  Then  came  the  mortgage  on  Clawbonny,  with 
its  disquieting  pictures ;  and  I  was  in  anything  but  a  good 
humour  to  enjoy  Lord  Harry  Dermond's  hospitality.  Still, 
I  knew  the  uselessness  of  remonstrances,  and  the  want  of 
dignity  there  would  be  in  repining,  and  succeeded  in  putting 


MILES     WALLINCFORD.  195 

a  good  face  on  the  matter.  I  simply  requested  that  my 
chief  mate,  the  cook,  and  Neb,  might  be  left  in  the  Dawn, 
submitting  it  to  the  discretion  of  my  captors  to  take  out  of 
her  as  many  of  the  remainder  of  her  people  as  they  saw 
fit.  Lord  Harry  remarked  it  was  not  usual  to  leave  a  mate, 
but  to  oblige  me,  he  would  comply.  The  frigate  would  go 
in  for  water,  in  the  course  of  a  fortnight,  when  I  might  de 
pend  on  having  the  entire  crew,  His  Majesty's  subjects  ex- 
cepted,  restored  to  my  command. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

1st  Gent.  What  is  my  ransom,  master  ?     Let  me  know. 
Mast.  A  thousand  crowns,  or  else  lay  down  your  head. 
Mate.  And  so  much  shall  you  give,  or  off  goes  yours. 

KING  HENRY  VI. 

I  NEVER  saw  a  man  more  astounded,  or  better  disposed 
to  fly  into  a  passion,  than  was  the  case  with  Mr.  Moses 
Oloff  Van  Duzen  Marble,  when  he  was  told  that  the  Dawn 
was  to  be  sent  into  England,  for  adjudication.  Nothing 
kept  his  tongue  within  the  bounds  of  moderation,  and  I  am 
far  from  certain  I  might  not  add  his  fists,  but  my  assurances 
he  would  be  sent  on  board  the  Speedy,  unless  he  behaved 
with  prudence.  As  our  people  were  sent  out  of  the  ship,  I 
thought,  several  times,  he  would  break  out  in  open  hostili 
ties  ;  and  he  did  actually  propose  to  me  to  knock  Sennit 
down,  and  throw  him  overboard.  With  a  significant  look, 
I  told  him  it  was  not  time  for  this.  The  mate  now  laid  a 
finger  on  his  nose,  winked,  and  from  that  moment  he  not 
only  seemed  cheerful,  but  "he  assisted  in  hoisting  in  and  out 
the  different  articles  that  were  exchanged,  in  shifting  the 
crews. 

When  all  was  ready,  it  appeared  that  Sennit  was  to  be 
our  prize-master.  Although  a  lieutenant  in  commission,  he 
had  only  been  lent  to  Lord  Harry  Dermond  by  the  admiral, 
in  order  to  fill  up  the  crew  of  that  favoured  officer ;  the 
Speedy  having  her  regular  complement  of  lieutenants 


196  MILES     WALLINOPORD. 

without  him.  As  the  cruise  was  so  nearly  up,  and  the  ship 
had  experienced  great  success  in  impressing  since  she 
sailed,  Sennit  could  be  spared  ;  and,  if  the  truth  were  said, 
I  make  no  doubt  his  messmates  in  the  frigate  were  glad  to 
be  rid  of  him,  now  they  had  no  further  occasion  for  his 
peculiar  skill  and  services. 

Mr.  Sennit  brought  on  board  with  him,  as  a  prize-crew, 
ten  fore-mast  men,  besides  a  master's-mate,  of  the  name  of 
Diggens.  Under  ordinary  circumstances,  this  last  dignitary 
would  have  been  of  sufficient  skiHl  to  take  the  ship  in :  but 
this  was  the  first  prize  Lord  Harry  had  taken ;  she  promised 
to  be  valuable  if  condemned ;  and  I  suppose  he  and  his 
young,  gentleman-like  luffs  were  desirous  of  getting  rid  of 
their  vulgar  associate.  At  any  rate,  Messrs.  Sennit  and 
Diggins  both  came  on  board  us,  bag  and  baggage. 

The  various  changes,  the  lunch,  and  the  chase  of  the 
morning,  had  so  far  worn  away  the  day,  that  the  two  ves 
sels  did  not  make  sail  until  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  both 
ships  filled  at  the  same  time ;  the  Speedy  on  a  wind,  with 
two  reefs  in  her  top-sails,  as  when  first  seen,  to  play  about 
for  more  prizes,  and  the  Dawn  under  studding-sails,  with 
the  wind  nearly  over  the  taffrail.  When  all  was  ready, 
each  ship  started  away  from  the  vacant  point  on  the  ocean, 
where  they  had  been  lying  for  hours,  moving  on  diverging 
lines,  at  a  rate  that  soon  put  a  wide  expanse  of  water 
between  them. 

I  felt  the  circumstance  of  being  left  under  the  command 
cf  such  a  man  as  Sennit  almost  as  sensibly  as  I  felt  the  loss 
of  my  ship.  He  and  the  mate  established  themselves  in  my 
cabin,  within  the  first  hour,  in  a  way  that  would  havo 
brought  about  an  explosion,  had  not  policy  forbade  it,  on 
my  part.  Sennit  even  took  possession  of  my  state-room, 
in  which  he  ordered  his  own  cot  to  be  swung,  and  from 
which  he  coolly  directed  my  mattress  to  be  removed.  As 
the  lockers  were  under  locks  and  keys,  I  permitted  him  to 
take  possession  without  a  remonstrance.  Diggins  stowed 
his  bedding  in  Marble's  berth,  leaving  my  mate  and  myself 
to  shift  for  ourselves.  At  a  suggestion  from  Marble,  1 
affected  great  indignation  at  this  treatment,  directing  Neb  to 
clear  away  a  place  in  the  steerage,  in  which  to  live,  and  to 
swing  hammocks  there  for  Marble  and  myself.  This  move- 


MILKS     WALLING  FORD.  197 

ment  had  some  effect  on  Sennit,  who  was  anxious  to  get  at 
the  small-stores ;  all  of  which  were  under  good  locks,  and 
locks  that  he  did  not  dare  violate,  under  an  order  from  the 
admiralty.  It  was,  therefore,  of  much  importance  to  him 
to  belong  to  my  mess  ;  and  the  necessity  of  doing  something 
to  appease  my  resentment  became  immediately  apparent  to 
him.  He  made  some  apologies  for  his  cavalier  conduct, 
justifying  what  he  had  done  on  the  score  of  his  rank  and 
the  usages  of  navies,  and  I  thought  it  prudent  to  receive  his 
excuses  in  a  way  to  avoid  an  open  rupture.  Sennit  was  left 
in  possession  of  the  state-room,  but  I  remained  in  the  steer 
age;  consenting,  however,  to  mess  in  the  cabin.  This 
arrangement,  which  was  altogether  premeditated  on  my 
part,  gave  me  many  opportunities  of  consulting  privately 
with  Marble ;  and  of  making  sundry  preparations  for  pro 
fiting  by  the  first  occasion  that  should  offer  to  re-take  the 
ship.  In  that  day,  re-captures  were  of  pretty  frequent 
occurrence ;  and  I  no  sooner  understood  the  Dawn  was  to 
be  sent  in,  than  I  began  to  reflect  on  the  means  of  effecting 
my  purpose.  Marble  had  been  kept  in  the  ship  by  me, 
expressly  with  this  object. 

I  suppose  the  reader  to  have  a  general  idea  of  the  position 
of  the  vessel,  as  well  as  of  the  circumstances  in  which  she 
was  placed.  We  were  just  three  hundred  and  fifty-two 
miles  to  the  southward  and  westward  of  Scilly,  when  I  ob 
served  at  meridian,  and  the  wind  blowing  fresh  from  the 
south-south-west,  there  was  no  time  to  lose,  did  I  meditate 
anything  serious  against  the  prize  crew.  The  first  occasion 
that  presented  to  speak  to  my  mate  offered  while  we  were 
busy  together  in  the  steerage,  stowing  away  our  effects,  and 
in  making  such  dispositions  as  we  could  to  be  comfortable. 

"  What  think  you,  Moses,  of  this  Mr.  Sennit  and  his  peo 
ple  ?"  I  asked,  in  a  low  voice,  leaning  forward  on  a  water- 
cask,  in  order  to  get  my  head  nearer  to  that  of  the  mate. 
"They  do  not  look  like  first-rate  man-of-war's-men ;  by 
activity %nd  surprise,  could  we  not  handle  them?" 

Marble  laid  a  finger  on  his  nose,  winked,  looked  as  saga 
cious  as  he  knew  how,  and  then  went  to  the  steerage  door, 
which  communicated  with  the  companion-way,  to  listen  if 
all  were  safe  in  that  quarter.  Assured  that  there  was  no 
one  near,  he  communicated  his  thoughts  as  follows ; 
17* 


198  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

"  The  same  idee  has  been  at  work  here,"  he  said,  tapping 
his  forehead  with  a  fore-finger,  "  and  good  may  come  of  it. 
This  Mr.  Sennit  is  a  cunning  chap,  and  will  want  good 
looking  after,  but  his  mate  drinks  like  a  coal-heaver ;  1  can 
see  that  in  his  whole  face ;  a  top-lantern  is  not  lighter.  He 
must  be  handled  by  brandy.  Then,  a  more  awkward  set 
of  long-shore  fellows  were  never  sent  to  manage  a  square- 
rigged  craft,  than  these  which  have  been  sent  from  the 
Speedy.  They  must  have  given  us  the  very  sweepings  of 
the  hold." 

"  You  know  how  it  is  with  these  dashing  young  man-of- 
war  captains ;  they  keep  all  their  best  materials  for  a  fight. 
French  frigates  are  tolerably  plenty,  they  tell  me,  and  this 
Lord  Harry  Dermond,  much  as  he  loves  sugar  and  coffee, 
would  like  to  fall  in  with  a  la  Vigilante,  or  a  la  Diane,  of 
equal  force,  far  better.  This  is  the  secret  of  his  giving 
Sennit  such  a  set  of  raw  ones.  Besides,  he  supposes  the 
Dawn  will  be  at  Plymouth  in  eight-and-forty  hours,  as  will 
certainly  be  the  case  should  this  wind  stand." 

"  The  fellows  are  just  so  many  London  loafers.  (I  have 
always  thought  Marble  had  the  merit  of  bringing  this  word 
into  fashion.)  There  are  but  three  seamen  among  them, 
and  they  are  more  fit  fojr  a  hospital  than  for  a  lowyer-yard 
or  a  jib-boom." 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  truth,  blended  with  some  ex 
aggeration,  mixed  up  with  this  statement  of  the  mate.  As 
a  matter  of  course,  the  captain  of  the  Speedy  had  not  sent 
away  his  best  men,  though  they  were  not  quite  as  bad  as 
Marble,  in  his  desire  to  overcome  them,  was  disposed  to 
fancy.  It  is  true,  there  were  but  three  of  their  number 
whom  the  quick,  nautical  instinct  of  the  mate  had  recog 
nised  as  real  seamen,  though  all  had  been  on  board  ship 
long  enough  to  render  them  more  or  less  useful. 

"  Whatever  we  do  must  be  done  at  once,"  I  rejoined. 
•'  We  are  four  athletic  men,  to  act  against  twelve.  The 
odds  are  heavy,  but  we  shall  have  the  advantage  tf  being 
picked  men,  and  of  attacking  by  surprise." 

"  I  wish  you  had  thought  of  asking  to  keep  Voorhees  in 
the  ship,  Miles ;  that  fellow  would  be  worth  three  ordinary 
men  to  usv" 

"  I  did  tnink  of  it,  but  the  request  would  never  have  been 


MILES    WALLINOPORD.  199 

granted.  One  could  ask  for  a  cook,  or  a  mate,  or  a  ser 
vant  like  Neb,  but  to  ask  for  an  able  seaman  or  two  would 
have  been  to  declare  our  object." 

"  I  believe  you  're  right,  and  we  must  be  thankful  for  the 
good  stuff  we  have,  as  it  is.  How  far  will  the  law  bear  us 
out  in  knocking  men  on  the  head  in  such  an  undertaking  ? 
It's  peace  for  America,  and  we  must  steer  clear  of  piracy  1" 

"  I've  thought  of  all  that,  Moses,  and  see  no  great  cause 
of  apprehension.  A  man  has  certainly  a  right  to  recover 
that  by  the  strong  hand  which  he  lost  by  the  strong  hand. 
Should  blood  be  spilt,  which  I  hope  to  avert,  the  English 
courts  might  judge  us  harshly,  while  the  American  would 
acquit  us.  The  law  would  be  the  same  in  both  cases, 
though  its  administration  would  be  very  different.  I  am 
ready  to  cast  my  own  fortune  on  the  issue,  and  I  wish  no 
man  to  join  me  who  will  not  do  so,  heart  and  hand.  I  see 
no  reason  to  suppose  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  life,  to 
which  I  have  as  strong  reluctance  as  you  can  have  your 
self," 

"  There's  my  hand  !"  exclaimed  Marble,  "  and  as  for  its 
owner's  heart,  you  well  know  where  that  is  to  be  found, 
Miles.  Enough  has  been  said  for  a  beginning.  We  will 
look  about  us  this  afternoon,  and  talk  further  after  supper." 

"  Good.  Do  you  say  a  word  to  Billings,  the  cook,  and 
I  will  open  the  matter  to  Neb.  Of  the  last  we  are  certain, 
but  it  may  be  well  to  make  some  promises  to  your  man." 

"  Leave  that  to  me,  Miles.  I  know  my  chap,  and  will 
deal  with  him  as  I  would  with  an  owner." 

Marble  and  myself  now  separated,  and  I  went  on  deck 
to  observe  how  things  promised  in  that  quarter.  By  this 
time,  the  Speedy's  top-sails  were  beginning  to  dip,  and  the 
Dawn  was  driving  forward  on  her  course,  with  everything 
drawing  that  she  could  carry.  All  the  English  were  on 
deck,  Sennit  included.  The  last  gave  me  a  sufficiently  civil 
salute  as  I  put  my  foot  on  the  quarter-deck,  but  I  avoided 
falling  into  any  discourse  with  him.  My  cue  was  to  note 
the  men,  and  to  ascertain  all  I  could  concerning  their  distri 
bution  during  the  approaching  night.  Diggens,  I  could  see, 
was  a  red-faced  fellow  who  probably  had  lost  his  promo 
tion  through  love  of  the  bottle,  though,  as  often  happens 
With  such  persons,  a  prime  seaman  and  a  thorough  man-of- 


200  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

war's-maji.  Of  him,  I  thought  I  could  make  sure  by 
means  of  brandy.  Sennit  struck  me  as  being  a  much  more 
difficult  subject  to  get  along  with.  There  were  signs  of 
cogniac  about  his  face  too,  but  he  had  more  rank,  more  at 
stake,  and  brighter  hopes  than  the  masterVmate.  Then 
he  was  evidently  better  practised  in  the  ways  of  the  world 
than  his  companion,  and  had  constantly  a  sort  of  uneasy 
vigilance  about  his  eye  and  manner  that  gave  me  no  little 
concern. 

It  was  my  wish  to  strike  a  blow,  if  possible,  that  very 
night,  every  minute  carrying  us  fast  towards  the  chops  of 
the  channel,  where  the  English  had  so  many  cruisers  in 
general,  as  to  render  ultimate  escape  next  to  impossible, 
should  we  even  be  so  lucky  as  to  regain  command  of  our 
own  ship.  I  was  afraid,  moreover,  Sennit  might  take  it 
into  his  head  to  have  all  hands  all  night,  under  the  pretext 
of  drawing  in  with  the  land.  Should  he  actually  adopt  this 
course,  our  case  was  nearly  hopeless. 

"  Your  mate  seems  to  love  the  cupboard,  Mr.  Walling- 
ford,"  Sennit  remarked  to  me,  in  a  good-natured  manner, 
with  an  evident  wish  to  establish  still  more  amicable  rela 
tions  between  us  than  had  yet  existed  ;  "  he  has  been  in  and 
about  that  galley  these  ten  minutes,  fidgeting  with  his  tin- 
pot,  like  a  raw  hand  who  misses  his  mother's  tea  P 

Sennit  laughed  at  his  own  humour,  and  I  could  hardly 
answer  with  a  smile,  for  I  knew  my  mate  had  adopted  this 
experiment  to  open  communications  with  the  cook. 

"  Mr.  Marble  is  famous  for  his  love  of  slops,"  I  answered, 
evasively. 

"  Well,  he  does  not  look  it.  I  have  seldom  seen  a  more 
thorough-looking  sea-dog  than  your  mate,  Captain  Walling- 
ford,"  —  this  was  the  first  time  Sennit  had  dignified  me  with 
this  title,  —  "  and  I  took  a  fancy  to  him  on  that  account,  as 
soon  as  I  saw  him.  You  will  do  me  the  favour  to  sup  with 
us  in  the  cabin,  I  hope,  for  I  see  signs  at  the  galley  that  it 
will  soon  be  ready  ?" 

"  I  shall  expect  to  join  your  mess,  sir,  now  explanations 
have  passed  between  us.  I  suppose  my  mate  is  to  be  one 
of  my  party,  as  well  as  yours  ?" 

"  Certainly.  I  shall  ask  the  favour  of  you  to  let  Mr. 
Mar;>le  relieve  Diggens,  for  half  an  hour  or  so>  while  the 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  201 

poor  fellow  gets  a  bite.  We  '11  do  as  much  for  you  another 
time." 

This  was  said  in  a  dry,  laughing,  sort  of  a  way,  which 
showed  that  Mr.  Sennit  was  fully  aware  he  was  making  a 
request  a  little  out  of  rule,  to  ask  a  man  to  aid  in  carrying 
his  own  ship  into  port,  as  a  prize ;  but  I  took  it,  as  it  was 
meant,  for  a  rough  joke  that  had  convenience  at  the  bottom. 

It  was  not  long  ere  Neb  came  to  announce  that  supper 
was  ready.  Sennit  had  made  but  an  indifferent  dinner,  it 
would  seem,  and  he  appeared  every  way  disposed  to  take  his 
revenge  on  the  present  occasion.  Calling  out  to  me  to  fol 
low,  he  led  the  way,  cheerfully,  into  the  cabin,  professing 
great  satisfaction  at  finding  we  were  to  make  but  one  mess 
of  it.  Strictly  speaking,  a  prize  crew,  under  circumstances 
like  those  in  which  the  Dawn  was  now  placed,  had  no  right 
to  consume  any  portion  of  the  vessel's  own  stores,  condem 
nation  being  indispensable  to  legalize  Lord  Harry  Dermond's 
course,  even  according  to  the  laws  of  his  own  country.  But 
I  had  ordered  Neb  to  be  liberal  with  my  means,  and  a  very 
respectable  entertainment  was  spread  before  our  eyes,  when 
we  reached  the  cabin.  Sennit  was  soon  hard  at  work  ;  but, 
under  pretence  of  looking  for  some  better  sugar  than  had 
been  placed  on  the  table,  I  got  three  bottles  of  brandy  pri 
vately  into  Neb's  hands,  whispering  him  to  give  one  to  the 
master's-mate  on  deck,  and  the  other  two  to  the  crew.  I 
knew  there  were  too  many  motives  for  such  a  bribe,  con, 
nected  with  our  treatment,  the  care  of  our  private  property, 
and  other  things  of  that  nature,  to  feel  any  apprehension 
that  the  true  object  of  this  liberality  would  be  suspected  by 
those  who  were  to  reap  its  advantages. 

Sennit,  Marble,  and  myself,  sate  quite  an  hour  at  table. 
The  former  drank  freely  of  wine ;  though  he  declined  hav 
ing  anything  to  do  with  the  brandy.  As  he  had  taken  two 
or  three  glasses  of  the  rejected  liquor  in  my  presence  be 
fore  the  two  ships  parted,  I  was  convinced  his  present  for- 
beajance  proceeded  from  a  consciousness  of  the  delicate 
circumstances  in  which  he  was  placed,  and  I  became  rather 
more  wary  in  my  own  movements.  At  length  the  lieute 
nant  said  something  about  the  "  poor  devil  on  deck,"  and 
Marble  was  sent  up,  to  look  out  for  the  ship,  while  Diggens 
came  below  to  eat.  The  instant  the  master's-mate  appear- 


202  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

ed,  I  could  see  the  brandy  had  been  doing  its  work  on  him, 
and  I  was  fearful  his  superior  might  notice  it.  He  did  not, 
however,  being  too  well  pleased  with  the  Madeira  I  had  set 
before  him,  to  trouble  himself  about  a  few  drams,  more  or 
less,  that  might  have  fallen  to  the  share  of  his  subordinate. 

At  length  this  memorable  supper,  like  everything  else 
of  earth,  came  to  an  end,  and  all  of  us  went  on  deck  in  a 
body  ;  leaving  Neb  and  the  cook  to  clear  away  the  frag 
ments.  It  was  now  night,  though  a  soft  star-light  was  dif 
fused  over  the  surface  of  the  rolling  water.  The  wind  had 
moderated  a  little,  and  the  darkness  promised  to  pass  with 
out  any  extra  labour  to  the  people,  several  of  the  studding- 
sails  having  been  taken  in  by  Diggens'  orders,  when  he  first 
went  below. 

When  seamen  first  come  on  deck  at  sea,  there  is  usually 
a  pause  in  the  discourse,  while  each  notes  the  weather,  the 
situation  of  the  ship,  and  the  signs  of  the  hour.  Sennit  and 
myself  did  this,  almost  as  a  matter  of  course,  separating, 
in  order  that  each  might  make  his  observations  at  leisure. 
As  for  Marble,  he  gave  up  the  command  of  the  deck  to 
Diggens,  walking  forward  by  himself.  Neb  and  the  cook 
were  keeping  up  the  customary  clattering  with  plates,  knives, 
and  forks. 

"  Have  the  people  had  their  suppers  yet,  Mr.  Diggens  ?" 
demanded  the  lieutenant. 

"  Not  yet,  sir.  We  have  no  cook  of  our  own,  you  know, 
sir,  and  so  have  been  obliged  to  wait,  sir." 

"  The  King's  men  wait  for  nobody.  Order  that  black 
fellow  to  let  them  have  their  suppers  at  once ;  while  that  is 
doing,  we  '11  tell  off  the  watches  for  the  night." 

Diggens  was  evidently  getting  more  and  more  under  the 
influence  of  brandy,  keeping  the  bottle  hid  somewhere  near 
him,  by  which  means  he  took  frequent  draughts  unperceived. 
He  gave  the  necessary  orders,  notwithstanding ;  and  pre 
sently  the  men  were  mustered  aft,  to  be  told  off  into  the  two 
watches  that  were  required  for  the  service  of  the  ship.  Jhis 
was  soon  done.  Sennit  choosing  five,  and  Diggens  his  five. 

"  It 's  past  eight  o'clock,"  said  Sennit,  when  the  selections 
were  made.  "  Go  below  the  watch,  and  all  but  the  man  at 
the  wheel  of  the  watch  on  deck  can  go  below  to  the  lights,  to 
eat.  Bear  a  hand  with  your  suppers,  my  lads ;  this  is  too  big  a 


MILES    WALLINOFORD.  203 

craft  to  be  left  without  look-outs  forward,  though  I  dare  say 
the  Yankees  will  lend  us  a  hand  while  you  are  swallowing 
a  mouthful  ?" 

"  To  be  sure  we  will,  sir,"  cried  Marble,  who  had  come 
to  the  gangway  to  witness  the  proceedings.  "  Here,  you 
Neb — come  out  of  that  galley  and  play  forecastle-man, 
while  John  Bull  gets  his  supper.  He  's  always  cross  when 
he  's  hungry,  and  we  'U  feed  him  well  to  make  a  good 
neighbourhood." 

This  caused  some  who  heard  it  to  laugh,  and  others  to 
swear  and  mutter.  Every  one,  nevertheless,  appeared  will 
ing  to  profit  by  the  arrangement,  the  Englishmen  being 
soon  below,  hard  at  work  around  the  kids.  It  now  struck 
me  that  Marble  intended  to  clap  the  forecastle-hatch  down 
suddenly,  and  make  a  rush  upon  the  prize  officers  and  the 
man  at  the  wheel.  Leaving  one  hand  to  secure  the  scuttle, 
we  should  have  been  just  a  man  apiece  for  those  on  deck ; 
and  I  make  no  doubt  the  project  would  have  succeeded,  had 
it  been  attempted  in  that  mode.  I  was,  by  nature,  a  stronger 
man  than  Sennit,  besides  being  younger  and  in  my  prime  ; 
while  Diggens  would  not  have  been  more  than  a  child  in 
Marble's  hands.  As  for  the  man  at  the  wheel,  Neb  could 
have  thrown  him  half-way  up  to  the  mizen-top,  on  an  emer 
gency.  But  it  seemed  that  my  mate  had  a  deeper  project 
in  view ;  nor  was  the  other  absolutely  certain,  as  I  after 
wards  learned,  one  of  the  Englishmen  soon  coming  out  of 
the  forecastle,  to  eat  on  deck,  quite  likely  aware  that  there 
might  be  some  risk  in  letting  all  hands  remain  below. 

It  was  now  sufficiently  dark  for  our  purposes,  and  I  be 
gan  to  reflect  seriously  on  the  best  mode  of  proceeding, 
when,  all  at  once,  a  heavy  splash  in  the  water  was  heard, 
and  Marble  was  heard  shouting,  "  Man  overboard !" 

Sennit  and  I  ran  to  the  lee  main-rigging,  where  we  just 
got  a  glimpse  of  the  hat  of  the  poor  fellow,  who  seemed  to 
be  swimming  manfully,  as  the  ship  foamed  past  him. 

"  Starboard,  your  helm  !"  shouted  Marble. — "  Starboard, 
your  helm  !  Come  to  these  fore-braces,  Neb — bear  a  hand 
this  a-way,  you  cook.  Captain  Wallingford,  please  lend  us 
a  pull.  Look  out  for  the  boat,  Mr.  Sennit ;  we  '11  take  care 
of  th<3  head-yards." 

Now  all  this  had  been  regularly  concocted  in  the  mate's 


204  MILES 

mind  in  advance.  By  these  means  he  not  only  managed  to 
get  all  our  people  together,  but  he  got  them  away  from  the 
boat.  The  whole  was  done  so  naturally,  as  to  prevent  the 
smallest  suspicion  of  any  design.  To  do  Sennit  justice,  1 
must  acknowledge  that  he  behaved  himself  particularly  well 
on  this  sudden  appeal  to  his  activity  and  decision.  The  loss 
of  a  man  was,  to  him,  a  matter  of  deep  moment ;  all  his 
habits  and  propensities  inclining  him  to  be  solicitous  about 
the  manning  of  ships.  A  man  saved  was  as  good  as  a  man 
impressed  ;  and  he  was  the  first  person  in  the  boat.  By  the 
time  the  ship  had  lost  her  way,  the  boat  was  ready  ;  and  I 
heard  Sennit  call  out  the  order  to  lower.  As  for  us  Ame 
ricans,  we  had  our  hands  full,  to  get  the  head-yards  braced 
up  in  time,  and  to  settle  away  the  top-gallant  halyards,  aft, 
in  order  to  save  the  spars.  In  two  minutes,  however,  the 
Dawn  resembled  a  steed  that  had  suddenly  thrown  his  rider, 
diverging  from  his  course,  and  shooting  athwart  the  field  at 
right  angles  to  his  former  track,  scenting  and  snuffing  the 
air.  Forward  all  was  full,  but  the  after-yard  having  been 
square  from  the  first,  their  sails  lay  aback,  and  the  ship  was 
slowly  forging  ahead,  with  the  seas  slapping  against  her 
bows,  as  if  the  last  were  admonishing  her  to  stop. 

I  now  walked  aft  to  the  taffrail,  in  order  to  make  certain 
of  the  state  of  things.  Just  as  1  reached  the  stern,  Sennit 
was  encouraging  the  men  to  "  give  way  "  with  the  oar.  I 
saw  that  he  had  six  of  his  people  with  him,  and  no  doubt 
six  of  his  best  men — the  boldest  and  most  active  being  al 
ways  the  most  forward  on  such  occasions.  There  was  no 
time  to  be  lost ;  and  I  turned  to  look  for  Marble.  He  was 
at  my  elbow,  having  sought  me  with  the  same  object.  We 
walked  away  from  the  man  at  the  wheel  together,  to  get  out 
of  ear-shot. 

"  Now 's  your  time,  Miles,"  the  mate  muttered,  slipping 
one  of  my  own  pistols  into  my  hands,  as  he  spoke. — "  That 
master's-mate  is  as  muzzy  as  a  tapster  at  midnight,  and  I 
can  make  him  do  what  I  please.  Neb  has  his  orders,  and 
the  cook  is  ready  and  willing.  You  have  only  to  say  the 
word,  to  begin." 

"  There  seems  little  necessity  for  bloodshed,"  I  answered. 
"  If  you  have  the  other  pistol,  do  not  use  it  unnecessarily ; 
We  may  want  it  for  the  boat " 


MILES     WABLINGFORD.  205 

"  Boat !"  interrupted  Marble.  "  What  more  have  we  to 
do  with  the  boat?  No — no — Miles  ;  let  this  Mr.  Sennit  go 
to  England  where  he  belongs.  Now,  see  how  I  '11  manage 
Diggens,"  he  added ;  "  I  want  to  get  a  luff  purchase  up  out 
of  the  forecastle  ; — will  you  just  order  two  or  three  of  your 
fellows  forward,  to  go  down  and  pass  it  up  for  rne  ?" 

"  D'ye  hear  there,  forward,"  called  out  Diggins,  with  a 
very  thick  tongue. — "Tumble  down  into  that  forecastle, 
three  or  four  of  you,  and  pass  up  the  tackle  for  Mr.  Mar- 
ble." 

Now,  there  were  but  three  of  the  Englishmen  left  -  in  the 
ship,  exclusively  of  the  master's-mate  himself,  and  the  man 
at  the  wheel.  This  order,  consequently,  sent  all  three  im 
mediately  into  the  forecastle.  Marble  coolly  drew  over  the 
hatch,  secured  it,  ordered  the  cook  to  keep  a  general  look 
out  forward,  and  walking  aft,  as  if  nothing  occurred,  said 
in  his  quiet  way — 

"  The  ship 's  yours,  again,  Captain  Wallingford." 

"  Mr.  Diggens,"  I  said,  approaching  the  master's-mate, 
"  as  I  have  a  necessity  for  this  vessel,  which  is  my  property, 
if  you  please,  sir,  I  '11  now  take  charge  of  her  in  person. 
You  had  better  go  below,  and  make  yourself  comfortable  ; 
there  is  good  brandy  to  be  had  for  the  asking,  and  you  may 
pass  an  agreeable  evening,  and  turn  in  whenever  it  suits 
you." 

Diggens  was  a  sot  and  a  fool,  but  he  did  not  want  for 
pluck.  His  first  disposition  was  to  give  battle,  beginning  to 
call  out  for  his  men  to  come  to  his  assistance,  but  I  put  an 
end  to  this,  by  seizing  him  by  the  collar,  and  dropping  him, 
a  little  unceremoniously,  down  the  companion-way.  Half 
an  hour  later,  he  was  dead  drunk,  and  snoring  on  the  cabin 
floor. 

There  remained  only  the  man  at  the  wheel  to  overcome. 
He  was  a  seaman,  of  course,  and  one  of  those  quiet,  or 
derly  men,  who  usually  submit  to  the  powers  that  be.  Ap 
proaching  him,  I  said — 

"  You  see  how  it  is,  my  lad  ;  the  ship  has  again  changed 
owners.  As  for  you,  you  shall  be  treated  as  you  behave. 
Stand  to  the  wheel,  and  you  '11  get  good  treatment  and 
plenty  of  grog,  but,  by  becoming  fractious,  you  '11  find  your 
self  in  irons  before  you  know  where  you  are." 
18 


206  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

"  Ay — ay,  sir — "  answered  the  man,  touching  his  hat, 
and  contenting  himself  with  this  brief  and  customary  reply. 

"  Now,  Mr.  Marble,"  I  continued,  "  it  is  time  to  have  an 
eye  on  the  boat,  which  will  soon  find  the  man,  or  give  him 
up.  I  own,  that  I  wish  we  had  recovered  the  ship  without 
tossing  the  poor  fellow  overboard." 

"  Fellow  overboard  !"  cried  Marble,  laughing — "  I  'd  ha' 
thrown  all  England  into  the  sea  had  it  been  necessary  and 
in  my  power,  but  it  wasn't  necessary  to  throw  overboard  so 
much  as  a  child.  The  chap  they  're  arter  is  nothing  but 
one  of  the  fenders,  with  the  deep  sea  lashed  to  its  smaller 
end,  and  a  tarpaulin  stopped  on  the  larger !  Mr.  Sennit 
need  be  in  no  great  hurry,  for  I  '11  engage  his  *  man  over 
board'  will  float  as  long  as  his  yawl !" 

The  whole  of  Marble's  expedient  was  thus  explained,  and 
I  confess  I  was  much  relieved  by  a  knowledge  of  the  truth. 
Apart  from  the  general  relief  that  accompanied  the  con 
sciousness  of  not  having  taken  human  life,  should  we  again 
fall  into  English  hands,  a  thing  by  no  means  improbable,  in 
the  situation  in  which  we  were  placed,  this  circumstance 
might  be  of  the  last  importance  tp  us.  In  the  mean  time, 
however,  I  had  to  look  to  the  boat  and  the  ship. 

The  first  thing  we  did  was  to  clew  up  the  three  top-gal 
lant-sails.  This  gave  us  a  much  easier  command  of  the 
vessel,  short-handed  as  we  were,  and  it  rendered  it  less 
hazardous  to  the  spars  to  keep  the  Dawn  on  a  wind.  When 
this  was  done,  I  ordered  the  after-braces  manned,  and  the 
leaches  brought  as  near  as  possible  to  touching.  It  was 
time ;  for  the  oars  were  heard,  and  then  I  got  a  view  of  the 
boat  as  it  came  glancing  down  on  our  weather  quarter.  I 
instantly  gave  the  order  to  fill  the  after  sails,  and  to  keep 
the  ship  full  and  by.  The  braces  were  manned,  as  well  as 
they  could  be,  by  Marble,  Neb  and  the  cook,  while  I  kept 
an  eye  on  the  boat,  with  an  occasional  glance  at  the  man  at 
the  wheel. 

"  Boat  ahoy !"  I  hailed,  as  soon  as  the  lieutenant  got  near 
enough  for  conversation. 

"  Ay,  boat  ahoy  !"  sure  enough,  growled  Sennit ;  "  some 
gentleman's  back  will  pay  for  this  trick.  The  '  man  over 
board'  is  nothing  but  a  d d  paddy  made  out  of  a  fender 


MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

with  a  tarpaulin  truck!  I  suspect  your  mate  of  this,  Mr. 
Wallingford." 

"  My  mate  owns  the  offence,  sir ;  it  was  committed  to 
get  you  out  of  the  ship,  while  we  took  charge  of  her,  again. 
The  Dawn  is  under  my  orders  once  more,  Mr.  Sennit ;  and 
before  I  permit  you  to  come  on  board  her,  again,  we  must 
have  an  understanding  on  the  subject." 

A  long,  meaning,  whistle,  with  a  muttered  oath  or  two, 
satisfied  me  that  the  lieutenant  had  not  the  slightest  suspi 
cion  of  the  truth,  until  it  was  thus  abruptly  announced  to 
him.  By  this  time  the  boat  was  under  our  stern,  where  she 
was  brought  in  order  to  be  hooked  on,  the  men  intending  to 
come  up  by  the  tackles.  For  this,  I  cared  not,  however,  it 
being  an  easy  matter  for  me,  standing  on  the  taffrail,  to 
knock  any  one  on  the  head,  who  should  attempt  to  board 
us,  in  that  fashion.  By  way  of  additional  security,  how 
ever,  Neb  was  called  to  the  wheel,  Marble  taking  the  Eng 
lish  sailor  forward  to  help  haul  the  bow-lines,  and  trim  the 
yards.  The  ship  beginning  to  gather  way,  too,  I  threw 
Sennit  the  end  of  a  lower-studding-sail  halyards,  that  were 
brought  aft  for  the  purpose,  ordered  his  bowman  to  let  go 
his  hold  of  the  tackle,  and  dropped  the  boat  a  safe  towing 
distance  astern.  Neb  being  ordered  to  keep  the  weather 
leaches  touching,  just  way  enough  was  got  on  the  ship  to 
carry  out  the  whole  of  this  plan,  without  risk  to  anybody. 

"  You  '11  not  think  of  leaving  us  out  here,  on  the  Atlantic, 
Mr.  Wallingford,  five  hundred  miles  from  the  Land's  End," 
Sennit  at  length  called  out,  time  having  been  taken  to  chew 
the  cud  of  reflection. 

"  That 's  as  you  behave,  sir.  I  wish  you  no  harm  person 
ally,  Mr.  Sennit,  though  I  much  wish  my  own  ship.  The 
night  promises  to  be  good  and  the  wind  is  moderating,  so 
that  the  boat  will  be  perfectly  safe.  I  will  have  you  hauled 
up,  and  we  will  throw  you  a  spare  sail  for  a  covering,  and 
you  will  have  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  we  shall  have 
to  keep  watch,  while  you  are  sleeping." 

"  Ay,  sir,  I  understand  it  all ;  Job's  comfort  that  will  be. 
As  I  do  not  suppose  you  are  to  be  coaxed  out  of  the  advan 
tage  you  have  obtained,  we  have  no  choice  but  compli 
ance.  Give  us  some  food  and  water  in  addition,  and,  for 


208  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

God's  sake !  don't  cast  us  adrift  in  this  boat,  so  far  from 
land." 

I  gave  Sennit  an  assurance  that  we  would  take  care  of 
him,  and  orders  were  issued  to  comply  with  his  wishes. 
We  passed  the  sail  into  the  boat,  and  lowered  a  bread-bag, 
a  kid  full  of  beef  and  pork,  and  a  breaker  of  fresh  water. 
I  took  all  these  precautions  the  more  readily,  as  I  did  not 
know  but  we  might  be  compelled  to  cast  the  boat  adrift,  and 
one  would  not  wish  to  resort  to  such  a  step,  without  desir 
ing  to  leave  his  crew  the  best  possible  chance  for  their  lives. 
I  will  do  Marble  the  justice  to  say,  he  was  active  in  making 
these  arrangements,  though,  had  the  question  of  destroying 
the  entire  prize-crew  presented  itself,  on  one  side,  and  that 
of  losing  the  ship  on  the  other,  he  would  not  have  hesitated 
about  sinking  Great  Britain  itself,  were  it  possible  to  achieve 
the  last.  I  was  more  human,  and  felt  exceedingly  relieved 
when  I  again  found  myself  in  command  of  the  Dawn,  after 
an  interregnum  of  less  than  ten  hours,  without  a  drop  of 
blood  having  been  spilled. 

As  soon  as  everything  required  was  passed  into  the  boat, 
she  was  dropped  astern,  nearly  to  the  whole  length  of  the 
studding-sail  halyards.  This  would  make  her  tow  more 
safely  to  both  parties :  to  those  in  her,  because  there  was 
less  risk  of  the  ship's  dragging  her  under ;  and  to  ourselves, 
because  it  removed  all  danger  of  the  Englishmen's  return 
ing  our  favour,  by  effecting  a  surprise  in  their  turn.  At 
such  a  distance  from  the  ship,  there  would  always  be  lime 
for  us  to  rally  and  defeat  any  attempt  to  get  alongside. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

Capt.  "  And  as  for  these  whose  ransome  we  have  set, 
It  is  our  pleasure,  one  of  them  depart : — 
Therefore  come  you  with  us,  and  let  him  go." 

KINO  HENRY  VL 

BY  such  simple  means,  and  without  resistance,  as  it  might 
be,  did  I  recover  the  possession  of  my  ship,  the  Dawn.  But, 
now  that  the  good  vessel  was  in  my  power,  it  was  by  no 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  209 

means  an  easy  thing  to  say  what  was  to  be  done  with  her. 
We  were  just  on  the  verge  of  the  ground  occupied  by  the 
channel  cruisers,  and  it  was  preposterous  to  think  of  run 
ning  the  gauntlet  among  so  many  craft,  with  the  expecta 
tion  of  escaping.  It  is  true,  we  might  fall  in  with  twenty 
English  man-of-war  vessels,  before  we  met  with  another 
Speedy,  to  seize  us  and  order  us  into  Plymouth,  had  every 
thing  been  in  order  and  in  the  usual  state  ;  but  no  cruiser 
would  or  could  board  us,  and  not  demand  the  reasons  why 
so  large  a  ship  should  be  navigated  by  so  small  a  crew.  It 
was  over  matters  like  these  that  Marble  and  I  now  consult- 
ed,  no  one  being  on  the  quarter-deck  but  the  mate,  who 
stood  at  the  wheel,  and  myself.  The  cook  was  keeping  a 
look-out  on  the  forecastle.  The  Englishman  had  lain  down, 
in  full  view,  by  my  orders,  at  the  foot  of  the  main-mast ; 
while  Neb,  ever  ready  to  sleep  when  not  on  duty,  was  catch 
ing  a  nap  on  the  booms. 

**  We  have  got  the  ship,  Moses,"  I  commenced,  "and  the 
question  next  arises,  what  we  are  to  do  with  her?" 

"  Carry  her  to  her  port  of  destination,  Captain  Walling- 
ford,  to  be  sure.  What  else  can  we  do  with  her,  sir?" 

"  Ay,  that  is  well  enough,  if  it  can  be  done.  But,  in  ad 
dition  to  the  difficulty  of  four  men's  taking  care  of  a  craft 
of  five  hundred  tons,  we  have  a  sea  before  us  that  is  covered 
with  English  cruisers." 

"  As  for  the  four  men,  you  may  safely  set  us  down  as 
eight.  I  '11  engage  we  do  as  much  in  a  blow,  as  eight  such 
fellows  as  are  picked  up  now-a-days  'long  shore.  The  men 
of  the  present  time  are  mere  children  to  those  one  met  with 
in  my  youth,  Miles  !" 

"  Neither  Neb,  nor  the  cook,  nor  I,  am  a  man  of  other 
times,  but  are  all  men  of  to-day ;  so  you  must  call  us  but 
three,  after  all.  I  know  we  can  do  much ;  but  a  gale  may 
come  that  would  teach  us  our  insignificance.  As  it  is,  we 
are  barely  able  to  furl  the  main-top-gallant-sail  in  a  squall, 
leaving  one  hand  at  the  wheel,  and  another  to  let  go  rigging. 
No,  no,  Moses  ;  we  must  admit  we  are  rather  short-handed, 
putting  the  best  face  on  the  matter." 

"  If  you  generalize  in  that  mode,  Miles,  my  dear  boy,  I 
must  allow  that  we  are.  We  can  go  up  channel,  and  ten 
18* 


210  MILES    WALLINGFORD 

chances  to  one  but  we  fall  in  with  some  Yankee,  who  wih 
lend  us  a  hand  or  two." 

"  We  shall  be  twice  as  likely  to  meet  with  King  George's 
ships,  who  will  overhaul  our  articles,  and  want  to  know 
what  has  become  of  the  rest  of  our  people." 

"  Then  we  '11  tell  'em  that  the  rest  of  the  crew  has  been 
pressed ;  they  know  their  own  tricks  too  well,  not  to  see  the 
reasonableness  of  such  an  idee." 

"  No  officer  would  leave  a  vessel  of  this  size  with  only 
her  master,  mate,  cook,  and  one  man,  to  take  care  of  her, 
even  had  he  found  a  crew  of  deserters  from  his  own  ship 
in  her.  In  such  a  case,  and  admitting  a  right  to  impress 
from  a  foreigner  at  all,  it  would  be  his  duty  to  send  a  party 
to  carry  the  craft  into  port.  No,  no,  Moses — we  must  give 
all  the  English  a  wide  berth,  now,  or  they  will  walk  us  into 
Plymouth,  yet." 

"  Blast  the  hole !  I  was  in  it,  a  prisoner,  during  the  rev- 
vylushun,  and  never  want  to  see  its  face  ag'in.  They  've 
got  what  they  call  the  Mill  Prison  there,  and  it 's  a  mill  that 
does  grinding  less  to  my  taste,  than  the  thing  of  your'n  at 
Clawbonny.  Why  not  go  north-about,  Miles  ?  There  must 
be  few  cruisers  up  that-a-way." 

"  The  road  is  too  long,  the  weather  is  apt  to  be  too  thick, 
and  the  coast  is  too  dangerous  for  us,  Moses.  We  have 
but  two  expedients  to  choose  between — to  turn  our  heads  to 
the  westward,  and  try  to  get  home,  trusting  to  luck  to  bring 
us  up  with  some  American  who  will  help  us,  or  steer  due 
east  and  run  for  a  French  port — Bordeaux  for  instance — 
where  we  might  either  dispose  of  the  cargo,  or  ship  a  new 
crew,  and  sail  for  our  port  of  destination." 

"  Then  try  the  last,  by  all  means.  With  this  wind,  we 
might  shove  the  ship  in  with  the  land  in  the  course  of  two 
or  three  days,  and  go  clear  of  everything !  I  like  the  idee, 
and  think  it  can  be  carried  out.  Burdux  is  always  full  of 
Americans,  and  there  must  be  men  enough,  to  be  had  for 
the  asking,  knocking  about  the  quays." 

After  a  little  further  conversation,  we  determined  on  this 
plan,  and  set  about  carrying  it  into  execution  on  the  spot. 
In  rounding-to,  the  ship  had  been  brought  by  the  wind  on 
the  larboard  tack,  and  was  standing  to  the  northward  and 
westward,  instead  of  to  the  eastward,  the  course  we  now 


MILES     W  ALLIN  G  FOR  D.  211 

wished  to  steer.  It  was  necessary,  therefore,  to  ware  round 
and  get  the  ship's  head  in  the  right  direction.  This  was 
not  a  difficult  manoeuvre  at  all,  and  the  Englishman  helping 
us,  with  seeming  good-will,  it  was  soon  successfully  exe 
cuted.  When  this  was  accomplished,  I  sent  the  English 
sailor  into  the  cabin  to  keep  Diggens  company,  and  we  set 
a  watch  on  deck  of  two  and  two,  Marble  and  myself  taking 
charge  four  hours  and  four  hours,  in  the  old  mode. 

I  acknowledge  that  I  slept  little  that  night.  Two  or  three 
times  we  detected  Sennit  attempting  to  haul  close  up  under 
the  ship's  stern,  out  of  all  question  with  a  view  to  surprise 
us,  but  as  often  would  he  drop  to  the  length  of  his  tow-rope, 
as  he  saw  Marble's  head,  or  mine,  watching  him  above  the 
taffrail.  When  the  day  dawned  I  was  called,  and  was  up 
and  on  the  look-out  as  our  horizon  enlarged  and  brightened 
round  the  ship.  The  great  object  was  to  ascertain,  as  early 
as  possible,  what  vessels  migl^  be  in  our  neighbourhood. 

But  a  solitary  sail  was  visible.  She  appeared  to  be  a 
ship  of  size,  close-hauled,  heading  to  the  southward  and 
eastward :  by  steering  on  our  proper  course,  or  certainly  by 
diverging  a  little  to  the  northward,  it  would  be  an  easy  mat 
ter  to  speak  her.  As  I  could  plainly  see  she  was  not  a  ship 
of  war,  my  plan  was  formed  in  a  moment.  On  communi 
cating  it  to  Marble,  it  met  with  his  entire  approbation. 
Measures  were  taken,  accordingly,  to  carry  it  into  imme 
diate  execution. 

In  the  first  place,  I  ordered  Sennit,  who  was  awake,  and 
had  been,  I  believe,  the  whole  night,  to  haul  the  boat  up 
and  to  lay  hold  of  one  of  the  boat-tackles.  This  he  did 
willingly  enough,  no  doubt  expecting  that  he  was  to  be 
received  into  the  ship,  under  a  treaty.  I  stood  on  the  look 
out  to  prevent  an  attack,  one  man  being  abundantly  able  to 
keep  at  bay  a  dozen  who  could  approach  only  by  ascending 
a  rope  hand  over  hand,  while  Marble  went  below  to  look 
after  the  two  worthies  who  had  been  snoring  all  night  in  the 
cabin.  In  a  minute  my  mate  re-appeared,  leading  up  the 
seaman,  who  was  still  more  asleep  than  awake.  This  man 
was  directed  to  lay  hold  of  the  tackle  and  slide  down  into 
the  boat.  There  being  no  remedy,  and  descending  being 
far  easier  than  ascending,  this  exploit  was  soon  performed, 
and  we  were  well  rid  of  one  of  our  enemies.  Sennit  now 


212  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

began  to  remonstrate,  and  to  point  out  the  danger  there  was 
of  being  towed  under,  the  ship  going  through  the  water  tho 
whole  time  at  the  rate  of  five  or  six  knots.  I  knew,  how- 
ever,  that  the  English  were  too  skilful  to  run  the  risk  of 
being  drowned,  unnecessarily,  and  that  they  would  let  go 
of  the  tackle  before  they  would  suffer  the  boat  to  be  swamp 
ed.  It  was  ticklish  work,  I  allow ;  but  they  succeeded  sur 
prisingly  well  in  taking  care  of  themselves. 

We  had  more  difficulty  with  Diggens.  This  fellow  had 
been  so  beastly  drunk,  that  he  scarce  knew  what  he  was 
about  when  awoke;  and  Marble  rather  dragged  him  on 
deck,  and  aft  to  the  taffrail,  than  assisted  him  to  walk. 
There  we  got  him  at  last ;  and  he  was  soon  dangling  by 
the  tackle.  So  stupid  and  enervated  was  the  master's  mate, 
however,  that  he  let  go  his  hold,  and  went  into  the  ocean. 
The  souse  did  him  good,  I  make  no  doubt ;  and  his  life  was 
saved  by  his  friends,  one  of  the  sailors  catching  him  by  the 
collar,  and  raising  him  into  tne  boat. 

Sennit  availed  himself  of  this  accident,  to  make  further 
remonstrances  on  the  subject  of  having  any  more  men  put 
in  the  boat.  It  was  easy  to  see,  it  was  as  much  his  policy 
to  get  everybody  out  of  that  little  conveyance,  as  it  was 
mine  to  get  all  the  English  into  her. 

"  For  God's  sake,  Captain  Wallingford,  knock  off  with 
this,  if  you  please ;"  cried  the  lieutenant,  with  a  most  im 
ploring  sort  of  civility  of  manner. — "  You  see  how  it  is ; 
we  can  barely  keep  the  boat  from  swamping,  with  the  num 
ber  we  have  in  her ;  and  a  dozen  times  during  the  night  I 
thought  the  ship  would  drag  her  under.  Nothing  can  be 
easier  than  for  you  to  secure  us  all,  if  you  will  let  us  come 
on  board,  one  at  a  time." 

"  I  do  not  wish  to  see  you  in  irons,  Mr.  Sennit ;  and  this 
will  remove  any  necessity  for  resorting  to  an  expedient  so 
unpleasant.  Hold  on  upon  the  tackle,  therefore,  as  I  shall 
feel  obliged  to  cast  you  off  entirely,  unless  you  obey  or 
ders." 

This  threat  had  the  desired  effect.  One  by  one,  the  men 
were  let  up  out  of  the  forecastle,  and  sent  into  the  boat. 
Cooked  meat,  bread,  rum  and  water,  were  supplied  to  the 
English ;  and,  to  be  ready  to  meet  any  accident,  we  lowered 
them  a  compass,  and  Sennit's  quadrant.  We  did  the  last 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  213 

at  his  own  earnest  request,  for  he  seemed  to  suspect  we  in 
tended  sending  him  adrift,  as  indeed  was  my  plan,  at  the 
proper  moment. 

Although  the  boat  had  now  twelve  men  in  her,  she  was 
in  no  danger,  being  a  stout,  buoyant  six-oared  yawl,  that 
might  have  held  twenty,  on  an  emergency.  The  weather 
looked  promising,  too, — the  wind  being  just  a  good  top-gal 
lant  breeze,  for  a  ship  steering  full  and  by.  The  only  thing 
about  which  I  had  any  qualms,  was  the  circumstance  that 
south-west  winds  were  apt  to  bring  mists,  and  that  the  boat 
might  thus  be  lost.  The  emergency,  nevertheless,  was  one 
that  justified  some  risks,  and  I  pursued  my  plan  steadily. 

As  soon  as  all  the  English  were  in  the  boat,  and  well  pro 
vided  with  necessaries,  we  felt  at  more  liberty  to  move  about 
the  ship,  and  exert  ourselves  in  taking  care  of  her.  The 
man  at  the  wheel  could  keep  an  eye  on  the  enemy, — the 
Dawn  steering  like  a  pilot-boat.  Neb  was  sent  aloft,  to  do 
certain  necessary  duty,  and  the  top-gallant-sails  being  loose, 
the  clew-lines  were  overhauled,  and  the  sails  set.  I  did  this 
more  to  prevent  the  English  ship  from  suspecting  something 
wrong,  at  seeing  a  vessel  running  off,  before  the  wind,  under 
such  short  canvass,  than  from  any  desire  to  get  ajaead,  since 
we  were  already  going  so  fast  as  to  render  it  probable  we 
should  pass  the  other  vessel,  unless  we  altered  our  course  to 
meet  her. 

Diogenes  Billings,  the  cook,  had  now  a  little  leisure  to 
serve  us  a  warm  breakfast.  If  Mr.  Sennit  were  living,  I 
think  he  would  do  us  the  justice  to  say  he  was  not  forgotten. 
We  sent  the  people  in  the  boat  some  good  hot  coffee,  well 
sweetened,  and  they  had  a  fair  share  of  the  other  comfort 
able  eatables  of  which  we  partook  ourselves.  We  also  got 
out,  and  sent  them  the  masts  and  regular  sails  of  the  boat, 
which  was  fitted  to  carry  two  sprits. 

By  this  time  the  stranger  ship  was  within  two  leagues  of 
us,  and  it  became  necessary  to  act.  I  sent  Marble  aloft  to 
examine  the  horizon,  and  he  came  down  to  report  nothing 
else  was  in  sight.  This  boded  well.  I  proceeded  at  once 
to  the  taffrail,  where  I  hailed  the  boat,  desiring  Sennit  to 
haul  her  up  within  comfortable  conversing  distance.  This 
was  done  immediately. 

"  Mr.  Sennit,"  J  commenced,  "  it  is  necessary  for  us  tc 


214  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

part  here.  The  ship  in  sight  is  English,  and  will  take  yon 
up.  I  intend  to  speak  her,  and  will  take  care  that  she  knows 
where  you  are.  By  standing  due  east  you  will  easily  cu 
her  off,  and  there  cannot  be  a  doubt  of  her  picking  you  up." 

"  For  heaven's  sake,  consider  a  moment,  Capt.  Walling- 
ford,"  Sennit  exclaimed,  "  before  you  abandon  us  out  here, 
a  thousand  miles  from  land." 

"  You  are  just  three  hundred  and  twenty-six  miles  from 
Scilly,  and  not  much  more  from  the  Land's  End,  Mr.  Sennit, 
with  a  wind  blowing  dead  for  both.  Then  your  own  coun 
trymen  will  pick  you  up,  of  a  certainty,  and  carry  you  safe 
into  port." 

"  Ay —  into  one  of  the  West-India  Islands ;  if  an  English 
man  at  all,  yonder  vessel  is  a  running  West-Indiaman ;  she 
may  take  us  all  the  way  to  Jamaica." 

"  Well,  then  you  will  have  an  opportunity  of  returning 
at  your  leisure.  You  wished  to  take  me  almost  as  much 
out  of  my  course ;  or,  if  not  absolutely  out  of  my  course, 
quite  as  much  out  of  my  time.  I  have  as  little  relish  for 
Plymouth  as  you  seem  to  have  for  Jamaica." 

"  But,  the  stranger  may  be  a  Frenchman — now,  I  look  at 
him,  he  has  a  French  look." 

"  If  he  should  be  French,  he  will  treat  you  well.  It  will 
be  exchanging  beef  for  soup-maigre  for  a  week  or  two. 
These  Frenchmen  eat  and  drink  as  well  as  you  English." 

"  But,  Capt.  Wallingford,  their  prisons  !  This  fellow, 
Bonaparte,  exchanges  nobody  this  war,  and  if  I  get  into 
France  I  am  a  ruined  man  !" 

"  And  if  I  had  gone  into  Plymouth,  I  fear  I  should  have 
been  a  ruined  man,  too." 

"  Remember,  we  are  of  the  same  blood,  after  all — people 
of  the  same  stock — just  as  much  countrymen  as  the  natives 
of  Kent  and  Suffolk.  Old  Saxon  blood,  both  of  us." 

"  Thank  you,  sir ;  I  shall  not  deny  the  relationship,  since 
it  is  your  pleasure  to  claim  it.  I  marvel,  however,  you  did 
not  let  your  cousin's  ship  pass  without  detaining  her." 

"  How  could  I  help  it,  my  dear  Wallingford  ?  Lord  Harry 
is  a  nobloman,  and  a  captain,  and  what  could  a  poor  devil 
of  a  lieutenant,  whose  commission  is  not  a  year  old,  do 
against  such  odds  !  No — no — there  should  be  more  feeling 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  215 

and  good-fellowship  between  chaps  like  you  and  me,  who 
have  their  way  to  make  in  the  world." 

«*  You  remind  me  of  the  necessity  of  being  in  motion. 
— Adieu,  Mr.  Sennit — cut,  Moses  !" 

Marble  struck  a  blow  with  the  axe  on  the  studding-sail 
halyards,  and  away  the  Dawn  glided,  leaving  the  boat  toss 
ing  on  the  waves,  twenty  fathoms  further  astern,  on  the 
very  first  send  of  the  sea.  What  Mr.  Sennit  said,  I  could 
not  hear,  now,  but  I  very  plainly  saw  him  shake  his  fist  at 
me,  and  his  head,  too ;  and  I  make  no  manner  of  doubt,  if 
he  called  me  anything,  that  he  did  not  call  me  a  gentleman. 
In  ten  minutes  the  boat  was  fully  a  mile  astern.  At  first 
Sennit  did  not  appear  disposed  to  do  anything,  lying  mo 
tionless  on  the  water,  in  sullen  stillness ;  but  wiser  thoughts 
succeeded,  and,  stepping  his  two  masts,  in  less  than  twenty 
minutes  I  saw  his  sails  spread,  and  the  boat  making  the 
best  of  its  way  to  get  into  the  track  of  the  stranger. 

It  had  been  my  intention,  originally,  to  speak  the  strange 
ship,  as  I  had  told  Sennit ;  but  seeing  there  was  no  probabi 
lity  of  her  altering  her  course,  so  as  to  pass  the  boat,  I 
changed  my  purpose,  and  stood  directly  athwart  her  fore 
foot,  at  about  half  a  mile's  distance.  I  set  the  Yankee 
bunting,  and  she  showed  the  English  ensign,  in  return. 
Had  she  been  French,  however,  it  would  have  made  no  odds 
to  me ;  for,  what  did  I  care  about  my  late  captors  becoming 
prisoners  of  war  ?  They  had  endeavoured  to  benefit  them 
selves  at  my  cost,  and  I  was  willing  enough  to  benefit  my 
self  at  theirs. 

We  made  our  preparations  for  setting  studding-sails  now, 
though  I  thought  there  were  signs  of  a  desire  in  the  Eng 
lishman  to  speak  me.  I  knew  he  must  be  armed,  and  felt 
no  wish  to  gratify  him,  inasmuch  as  he  might  take  it  into 
his  head  to  make  some  inquiries  concerning  the  boat,  which 
if  not  already  visible  from  his  decks,  soon  must  be.  I  was 
certain  the  Dawn,  deep  as  she  was,  would  go  four  feet  to 
the  Indiaman's  three,  and,  once  past  him,  I  had  no  appre 
hensions  in  the  event  of  a  chase. 

The  English  ship  caught  sight  of  the  boat,  when  we  were 
about  a  mile  on  his  lee  quarter,  with  lower  and  top-mast 
studding-sails  set,  going  quite  eight  knots,  on  a  due  east 
course.  We  became  aware  of  the  fact,  by  her  hoisting  a 


216  MILES     WALLINOPORD. 

jack  at  the  fore.  From  that  moment  I  gave  myself  no  con 
cern  on  the  subject  of  Sennit  and  his  prize-crew.  Twenty 
minutes  later,  we  saw  the  ship  back  her  main-top-sail,  and, 
by  means  of  the  glasses,  we  plainly  perceived  the  boat  along 
side  of  her.  After  some  delay,  the  yawl  was  hoisted  on  the 
deck  of  the  ship,  and  the  latter  filled  her  topsail.  I  had 
some  curiosity  to  ascertain  what  would  come  next.  It  would 
seem  that  Sennit  actually  induced  the  master  of  the  West- 
Indiaman  to  give  chase;  for,  no  sooner  did  the  vessel  gather 
way,  than  she  bore  up,  after  us,  packing  on  everything  that 
would  draw.  We  were  greatly  rejoiced  at  having  improved 
the  leisure  time,  in  making  sail  ourselves;  for,  having  a 
lower  studding-sail  and  two  top-mast  studding-sails  on  tho 
ship,  when  this  race  began,  I  did  not  feel  much  apprehen 
sion  of  being  overtaken.  By  way  of  making  more  sure  of 
an  escape,  however,  we  set  the  royals. 

When  the  West-Indiaman  bore  up  in  chase,  we  were 
about  two  leagues  ahead  of  our  pursuer.  So  far  from  less 
ening  this  distance,  though  she  carried  royal  studding-sails, 
we  gradually  increased  it  to  three,  until,  satisfied  he  could 
do  nothing,  the  master  of  the  strange  ship  took  in  his  light 
sails,  and  hauled  by  the  wind  again,  carrying  the  late  prize- 
crew  in  a  direct  line  from  England.  I  afterwards  learned 
that  Sennit  and  his  companions  were  actually  landed  in  the 
island  of  Barbadoes,  after  a  pleasant  passage  of  only  twen 
ty-six  days.  I  make  no  doubt  it  took  them  much  longer  to 
get  back  again ;  for  it  was  certain  not  one  of  them  had  re 
appeared  in  England  six  months  from  that  day. 

We  now  had  the  ship  to  ourselves,  though  with  a  very 
diminished  crew.  The  day  was  the  time  to  sleep  ;  and  re 
lieving  each  other  at  the  wheel,  those  who  were  off  duty, 
slept  most  of  the  time,  when  they  were  not  eating.  At  six 
in  the  evening,  however,  all  hands  were  up,  making  our 
preparations  for  the  night. 

At  that  hour,  the  wind  was  steady  and  favourable ;  the 
horizon  clear  of  vessels  of  every  sort,  and  the  prospects  of 
a  pleasant  night  were  sufficiently  good.  The  run  in  tho 
course  of  the  day  was  equal  to  one  hundred  miles,  and  I 
computed  the  distance  to  Brest,  at  something  less  than  four 
hundred  miles.  By  getting  in  nearer  with  the  land,  I  should 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  217 

have  the  option  of  standing  for  any  French  port  I  pleased, 
that  lay  between  Cherbourg  and  Bayonne. 

"  Well,  Moses,"  I  observed  to  my  old  friend  and  ship 
mate,  when  we  had  finished  our  survey,  "  this  looks  pro 
mising  !  As  long  as  the  wind  remains  in  this  quarter,  we 
shall  do  well  enough ;  should  we  actually  get  in  safely,  I 
shall  not  regret  the  delay,  the  credit  of  having  done  so  good  a 
thing,  and  of  having  done  it  so  well,  being  worth  as  much  to 
me,  as  any  interest  on  capital,  or  wear  and  tear  of  gear,  can 
possibly  be.  As  for  Mr.  Sennit,  I  fancy  he  is  some  sixty 
or  eighty  miles  off  here  at  the  southward  and  westward, 
and  we  've  done  with  him  for  the  voyage." 

"  Suppose  he  should  fall  in  with  the  Speedy,  and  report 
what  has  happened,  Miles  ?"  returned  the  mate.  "  I  have 
been  calculating  that  chance.  The  stranger  was  stand 
ing  directly  for  the  frigate's  cruising  ground,  and  he 
may  meet  her.  We  will  not  halloo,  'till  we're  out  of 
the  woods." 

"  That  risk  is  so  remote,  I  shall  not  let  it  give  me  any 
trouble.  It  is  my  intention  to  run  in  for  the  land  at  our 
fastest  rate  of  sailing,  and,  then  profit  by  the  best  wind  that 
offers,  to  get  into  the  nearest  haven.  If  you  can  suggest  a 
better  scheme,  Moses,  I  invite  you  to  speak." 

Marble  assented,  though  I  perceived  he  was  not  entirely 
free  from  the  apprehension  he  had  named  until  the  next 
morning  arrived,  bringing  with  it  no  change,  and  still  leav 
ing  us  a  clear  sea.  That  day  and  the  succeeding  night, 
too,  we  made  a  capital  run,  and  at  meridian  of  the  third  day 
after  the  recapture  of  the  Dawn,  I  calculated  our  position 
to  be  just  one  hundred  and  four  miles  to  the  southward  and 
eastward  of  Ushant.  The  wind  had  shifted,  however,  and 
it  had  just  come  out  light  at  north-east.  We  went  to  work, 
all  hands  of  us,  to  get  in  the  studding-sails,  and  to  brace 
up  and  haul  aft ;  an  operation  that  consumed  nearly  two 
hours.  We  were  so  busily  employed,  indeed,  as  to  have 
little  or  no  time  to  look  about  us,  and  my  surprise  was  the 
less,  therefore,  when  the  cook  called  out  "  sail  ho !"  I  was 
busy  trimming  the  main-yard,  when  this  announcement  was 
made,  and  looking  up,  I  saw  a  lugger  standing  towards  us, 
and  already  within  long  gun-shot.  I  afterwards  ascertained 
that  oerceiving  us  to  be  approaching  her,  this  craft  had  lain 
19 


218  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

like  a  snake  in  the  grass,  under  bare  poles,  until  she  thought 
us  sufficiently  near,  when  she  made  sail  in  chase.  I  saw,  at 
a  glance,  several  important  facts  :  in  the  first  place,  the  lug 
ger  was  French  beyond  all  dispute ;  in  the  second,  she  was 
a  cruiser,  public  or  private ;  in  the  third,  escape  from  her, 
under  any  circumstances,  was  highly  improbable,  under 
those  which  actually  existed  impossible.  But,  why  should  we 
.endeavour  to  escape  from  this  vessel?  The  countries  were  at 
peace :  we  had  just  bought  Louisiana  from  France,  and  paid 
fifteen  millions  of  dollars  for  it,  thereby  not  only  getting  the 
country  ourselves,  but  keeping  it  out  of  the  hands  of  John 
Bull,  and  we  were  said  to  be  excellent  friends,  again.  Then 
the  Dawn  had  extricated  herself  from  English  clutches,  only 
a  day  or  two  before ;  no  doubt  the  lugger  would  give  us  all 
the  aid  we  could  require. 

"  She  is  Frendi,  for  a  thousand  dollars,  Miles !"  I  cried, 
lowering  my  glass  from  the  first  good  look  of  the  stranger  ; 
"  and  by  keeping  away  two  points,  we  shall  speak  her  in 
fifteen  minutes." 

"  Ay,  French,"  rejoined  the  mate,  "  but,  blast  'em  all 
round,  I'd  much  rather  have  nothing  to  do  with  any  of  the 
rogues.  I'll  tell  you  how  it  is,  Miles,  these  are  onmoraliz- 
ing  times,  and  the  sea  is  getting  to  be  sprinkled  with  so 
many  Van  Tassels,  that  I'm  afeard  you  and  I'll  be  just 
that  dear,  good  old  soul,  my  mother,  and  little  Kitty,  to  be 
frightened,  or,  if  not  exactly  frightened,  to  be  wronged  out 
of  our  just  rights." 

"  Little  fear  of  that  this  time,  Moses — this  is  a  French 
man  ;  as  we  are  bound  in  to  a  French  port,  he'll  not  hesi 
tate  to  lend  us  half-a-dozen  hands,  in  order  to  help  us 
along." 

"  Ay,  and  take  half  the  ship  and  cargo  for  salvage  !  I 
know  these  piccaroons,  and  you  ought  to  know  'em  too, 
Miles,  for  it's  only  two  or  three  years  since  you  were  a  pri 
soner  of  war  among  'em.  That  was  a  delightful  feelin',  I 
rather  conclude." 

"Times  are  altered,  Moses,  and  I'll  show  confidence  in 
the  change.  Keep  the  ship  away,  Neb — so ;  meet  her — 
steer  for  the  lugger's  fore-mast ;  that  will  do." 

Of  course,  these  orders  soon  brought  the  two  vessels 
alongside  of  each  other.  As  the  lugger  approached,  we 


MILES     WALLINOPORD.  219 

made  her  out  to  be  a  stout,  but  active  craft,  of  sixteen  guns, 
and  apparently  full  of  men.  She  set  the  *  tri-colorj  when 
half  a  mile  distant,  sure  of  her  prey,  should  we  turn  out  to 
be  a  prize.  We  showed  him  the  stars  and  stripes  of  course, 
fancying  he  would  treat  them  as  a  friend. 

It  was  not  long  before  both  vessels  had  rounded-to,  and 
preparations  were  made  to  hail. 

"What  sheep's  zat?"  demanded  one  in  good  broken 
English. 

"  The  Dawn,  of  New- York — may  I  ask  the  name  of 
your  lugger?" 

"  Le  Polisson — corsair  Francois — what  you  load,  eh?" 

"  Sugar  and  coffee,  with  cochineal,  and  a  few  other  ar 
ticles." 

"  Peste  ! — Vere  you  boun',  Monsieur,  s'il  vous  plait." 

"  Hamburg." 

"  Diable  ! — zis  is  non  ze  chemin. — How  you  come  here, 
sair,  viz  ze  vin'  at  sow-vess?" 

"  We  are  going  in  to  Brest,  being  in  need  of  a  little  suc 
cour." 

"You  vish  salvage,  eh  !  Parbleu,  we  can  do  you  zat 
mosh  good,  as  veil  as  anodair." 

I  was  then  ordered,  privateer  fashion,  to  lower  a  boat, 
and  to  repair  on  board  the  lugger  with  my  papers.  When 
told  I  had  no  stern  or  quarter-boat  to  lower,  the  Frenchman 
manifested  surprise  ;  but  he  sent  his  own  yawl  for  me.  My 
reception  on  board  the  Polisson  was  a  little  free  for  French 
men.  The  captain  received  me  in  person,  and  I  saw,  at  a 
glance,  I  had  to  deal  with  men  who  were  out  on  the  high 
seas,  with  the  fear  of  English  prison-ships  constantly  before 
their  eyes,  in  quest  of  gold.  I  was  not  invited  into  the 
cabin,  a  crowded,  dark  and  dirty  hole,  for,  in  that  day,  the 
French  were  notoriously  foul  in  their  vessels,  but  was  di 
rected  to  show  my  papers  seated  on  a  hen-coop. 

As  everything  was  regular  about  the  register,  manifest 
and  clearance,  I  could  see  that  Monsieur  Gafiois  was  not  in 
a  particularly  good  humour.  He  had  one,  whom  I  took  to 
be  a  renegade  Englishman,  with  him,  to  aid  in  the  examina 
tion,  though,  as  this  man  never  spoke  in  my  presence,  I 
was  unable  precisely  to  ascertain  who  he  was.  The  two 
had  a  long  consultation  in  private,  after  the  closest  scrutiny 


220  MILES     WALL  ING  FORD. 

could  detect  no  flaw  in  the  papers.  Then  Monsieur  Gallois 
approached  and  renewed  the  discourse. 

"  Vy  you  have-  no  boat,  sair  ?"  he  asked. 

"  I  lost  my  boat,  three  days  since,  about  a  hundred  leagues 
to  the  southward  and  westward." 

"It  is  not  have  bad  veddair ! — Why  you  got  no  more 
marins  in  your  sheep  1 — eh  !" 

I  saw  it  would  be  best  to  tell  the  whole  truth,  at  once ; 
for,  were  I  to  get  any  aid  from  this  lugger,  the  facts,  sooner 
or  later,  must  be  made  known.  Accordingly,  I  gave  the 
Frenchman,  and  his  English-looking  companion,  a  full  ac 
count  of  what  had  occurred  between  us  and  the  Speedy. 
After  this  narrative,  there  was  another  long  conference  be 
tween  Mons.  Gallois  and  his  friend.  Then  the  boat  wag 
again  manned,  and  the  captain  of  the  lugger,  accompanied 
by  his  privy-counsellor  and  myself,  went  on  board  the 
Dawn.  Here,  a  very  cursory  examination  satisfied  my 
visitors  of  the  truth  of  my  story. 

I  confess,  I  expected  some  commendation  from  a  French 
man,  when  he  heard  the  ready  manner  in  which  we  had  got 
our  vessel  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Philistines.  No  such 
thing ;  an  expressive  '  bori*  had  escaped  Mons.  Gallois,  once 
or  twice,  it  is  true ;  but  it  was  apparent  he  was  looking 
much  sharper  for  some  pretext  to  make  us  a  prize  himself, 
than  for  reasons  to  commend  our  conduct.  Each  new  as- 
pect  of  the  affair  was  closely  scanned,  and  a  new  conference 
with  the  adviser  was  held,  apart. 

**  Sair,"  said  Mons.  Gallois,  "  I  have  mosh  regret,  but 
your  sheep  is  bon  prize.  You  have  been  prisonnier  to  ze 
English,  ze  enemy  of  la  France,  and  you  shall  not  capture 
yourself.  L'Amerique  is  not  at  war — is  neutral,  as  you 
shall  say,  and  ze  Americains  cannot  make  ze  prize.  I  con- 
sidair  your  ship,  monsieur,  as  in  ze  hand  of  ze  English, 
and  shall  capture  him.  Mes  regrets  sont  vifs,  mais,  que 
voulez  vous  ?  Ze  corsair  most  do  his  devoir,  ze  same  as 
ze  sheep  national.  I  shall  send  you  to  Brest,  vere,  if  you 
be  not  sold  par  un  decret,  I  shall  be  too  happy  to  restore 
votre  bailment — Allans  /" 

Here  was  a  denouement  to  the  affair,  with  a  vengeance! 
I  was  to  be  captured,  because  I  had  been  captured.  "Onco 
a  corporal,  always  a  corporal."  As  the  English  had  taken 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  221 

me,  the  French  would  take  me.  A  prize  to-day,  you  must 
be  a  prize  to-morrow.  I  have  always  thought  the  case  of 
the  Dawn  was  the  first  of  the  long  series  of  wrongs  that 
were  subsequently  committed  on  American  commerce,  in 
virtue  of  this  same  principle,  a  little  expanded  and  more 
effectually  carried  out,  perhaps,  and  which,  in  the  end,  ter 
minated  by  blockading  all  Europe,  and  interdicting  the  high 
seas,  on  paper. 

I  knew  the  uselessness  of  remonstrating  with  a  rapacious 
privateersman.  "  Let  him  send  me  in,"  I  thought  to  myself, 
at  first ;  "  it  is  just  where  I  wish  to  go  ;  once  in,  the  minis 
ter  must  get  me  clear.  The  fellow  will  only  be  the  dupe 
of  his  own  covetousness,  and  I  shall  profit  by  it,  in  the  de 
gree  that  he  will  be  a  loser !" 

I  presume  Mons.  Gallois  entertained  a  very  different  view 
of  the  matter,  for  he  manifested  great  alacrity  in  throwing 
a  crew  of  no  less  than  seventeen  souls,  big  and  little,  on 
board  us.  I  watched  these  operations  in  silence,  as  did  Neb 
and  Diogenes.  As  for  Marble,  he  lighted  a  segar,  took  his 
seat  on  the  windlass,  and  sat  in  dignified  anger,  ready  to 
explode  on  the  slightest  occasion,  yet  apprehensive  he 
might  be  sent  out  of  the  ship,  should  he  betray  one-half  of 
what  he  felt.  Out  of  the  ship  neither  of  us  was  sent,  how 
ever,  the  French  probably  feeling  indisposed  to  be  troubled 
with  passengers  in  the  narrow  quarters  they  had  for  them 
selves. 


19* 


222  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

You  are  safe ; 

Nay,  more, — almost  triumphant.     Listen,  then, 
And  hear  my  words  of  truth.  MARINO  FALIEEO. 

IT  was  just  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  the  Dawn  and  the 
Polisson  parted  company ;  the  former  steering  on  her  old 
course  for  Brest,  while  the  latter  continued  her  cruise.  The 
lugger  sailed  like  a  witch,  and  away  she  went  towards  the 
chops  of  the  channel,  on  a  bow-line ;  leaving  us  to  stand 
towards  the  French  coast — close-hauled,  also,  but  on  the 
opposite  tack. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  dwell  on  the  feelings  with 
which  we  four,  who  were  eye-witnesses  of  all  that  passed, 
witnessed  the  proceedings.  Even  Diogenes  was  indignant. 
As  for  Marble,  I  have  already  alluded  to  his  state  of  mind ; 
and,  if  I  had  not,  the  following  dialogue,  which  took  place 
at  sunset,  (the  first  that  occurred  between  us  in  private  since 
the  second  capture, — while  the  French  were  eating  their 
suppers,)  would  serve  to  explain  it. 

"  Well,  Miles,"  the  mate  drily  observed,  "  whatever  we 
have  to  do,  must  be  done  at  once.  When  shall  we  begin  ? 
—in  the  middle,  or  in  the  morning  watch?" 

"Begin  what,  Moses?"  I  asked,  a  little  surprised  at  the 
settled  manner  in  which  he  put  his  question. 

"  To  throw  these  Frenchmen  overboard. — Of  course,  you 
don't  mean  to  let  them  carry  your  ship  into  Brest  ?" 

"Why  not?  We  were  bound  to  Brest  when  we  fell  in 
with  them  ;  and,  if  they  will  take  us  there,  it  will  only  save 
us  the  trouble  of  doing  it  ourselves." 

"  Do  n't  be  deceived  by  any  such  hope,  Miles.     I've  been 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  223 

in  the  han-ds  of  Frenchmen,  before  I  knew  you ;  and  there 
is  little  hope  of  getting  out  of  them,  so  long  as  the  ship  and 
cargo  will  pay  for  detention.  No,  no,  my  dear  boy ;  you 
know  I  love  you  better  than  anything  on  'arth,  my  dear, 
old  soul  of  a  mother,  and  little  Kitty,  excepted, — for  il 
wouldn't  be  religious  to  like  you  better  than  my  own  flesh 
and  blood, — but,  after  these  two,  I  like  you  better  than  any 
one  on  'arth ;  and  I  can't  be  quiet,  and  see  you  run  your 
property  into  the  fire.  Never  let  the  ship  go  into  France, 
after  what  has  happened,  if  you  can  help  it." 

"  Can  we  possibly  help  it  ?  Or  do  you  propose  that  four 
men  shall  re-take  this  vessel  from  seventeen  1" 

"  Well,  the  odds  are  not  so  great,  Miles,"  Marble  rejoined, 
looking  coolly  round  at  the  noisy  set  of  little  Frenchmen, 
who  were  all  talking  together  over  their  soup ;  certainly  not 
a  very  formidable  band  in  a  hand-to-hand  encounter,  though 
full  of  fire  and  animation.  "  There  are  four  of  us,  and  only 
seventeen  of  them,  such  as  they  are.  I  rather  think  we 
could  handle  'em  all,  in  a  regular  set-to,  with  fists.  There's 
Neb,  he's  as  strong  as  a  jackass  ;  Diogenes  is  another  Her 
cules  ;  and  neither  you  nor  I  am  a  kitten.  I  consider  you 
as  a  match,  in  a  serious  scuffle,  for  the  best  four  among  them 
chaps." 

This  was  not  said  in  the  least  boastingly,  though 
certainly  the  estimate  of  comparative  force  made  by  my 
mate  was  enormously  out  of  the  way.  It  was  true,  that 
we  four  were  unusually  powerful  and  athletic  men ;  but  it 
was  also  true,  that  six  of  the  French  might  very  well  be 
placed  in  the  same  category.  I  was  not  subject  to  the  vul 
gar  prejudice  of  national  superiority,  I  hope ;  one  *of  the 
strongest  of  all  the  weaknesses  of  our  very  weak  nature. 
I  have  never  yet  been  in  a  country,  of  which  the  people  did 
not  fancy  themselves,  in  all  particulars,  the  salt  of  the  earth ; 
though  there  are  very  different  degrees  in  the  modes  of 
bragging  on  such  subjects.  In  the  present  instance,  Marble 
had  not  the  least  idea  of  bragging,  however;  for  he  really 
believed  we  four,  in  an  open  onslaught,  fire-arms  out  of  the 
question,  might  have  managed  those  seventeen  Frenchmen. 
I  think,  myself,  we  might  have  got  along  with  twice  our 
number,  taking  a  fair  average  of  the  privateer's  men,  and 
reducing  the  struggle  to  the  arms  of  nature ;  but  I  should 


224  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

nave  hesitated  a  long  time  in  making  an  open  attack  on 
even  them. 

Still,  I  began  to  regard  my  chances  of  escaping,  should 
we  be  sent  into  a  French  port  by  the  privateer,  as  far  less 
certain  than  they  had  appeared  at  first.  Marble  had  so 
much  to  say  of  the  anarchists  in  France,  as  he  had  known 
them  in  the  worst  period  of  the  revolution,  and  so  many 
stories  to  tell  of  ships  seized  and  of  merchants  ruined,  that 
my  confidence  in  the  right  was  shaken.  Bonaparte  was 
then  in  the  height  of  his  consular  power, — on  the  point  of 
becoming  Emperor,  indeed, — and  he  had  commenced  this 
new  war  with  a  virulence  and  disregard  of  acknowledged 
rights,  in  the  detention  of  all  the  English  then  resident  in 
France,  that  served  to  excite  additional  distrust.  What 
ever  may  be  said  of  the  comprehensiveness  and  vastness  of 
the  genius  of  Napoleon,  as  a  soldier  and  statesman,  I  pre 
sume  few  upright  and  enlightened  men  can  now  be  found  to 
eulogize  his  respect  for  public  law.  At  any  rate,  I  began 
to  have  lively  misgivings  on  the  subject ;  and  the  consulta 
tion  between  my  mate  and  myself  terminated  in  our  coming 
to  a  resolution  to  serve  the  French  prize-crew  substantially 
as  we  had  served  the  English  prize-crew,  if  possible;  vary 
ing  the  mode  only  to  suit  the  new  condition  of  things. 
This  last  precaution  was  necessary,  as,  in  the  fulness  of  my 
confidence,  I  had  made  Mons.  Gallois  acquainted  with  all 
the  circumstances  of  throwing  the  fender  overboard,  and 
the  manner  in  which  we  had  got  possession  of  the  ship.  It 
was  not  to  be  expected,  therefore,  that  particular  artifice  could 
be  made  to  succeed  with  him. 

It  iftust  have  been  the  result  of  prejudice,  and  of  constant 
reading  of  articles  extracted  from  the  English  journals,  that 
influenced  me ;  but  I  confess  it  seemed  a  much  easier  matter 
to  retake  my  ship  from  seventeen  Frenchmen,  than  from 
twelve  Englishmen.  I  was  not  so  besotted  as  to  sup 
pose  surprise,  or  artifice,  would  not  be  necessary  in  either 
case ;  but,  had  the  issue  been  made  up  on  brute  force,  I 
should  have  begun  the  fray  with  greater  confidence  in  the 
first  than  in  the  last  case.  All  this  would  have  been  very 
wrong  in  our  particular  situation,  though,  as  a  rule  and  as  ap 
plied  to  sea-faring  men,  it  might  be  more  questionable.  How 
often,  and  how  much,  have  I  seen  reason  to  regret  the  influ- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  225 

ence  that  is  thus  silently  obtained  amongst  us,  by  our  con. 
senting  to  become  the  retailers  of  other  people's  prejudices ! 
One  of  the  reasons  why  we  have  so  long  been  mere  ser- 
viles  on  this  point,  is  owing  to  the  incompleteness  of  the 
establishments  of  the  different  leading  presses  of  the  coun 
try.  We  multiply,  instead  of  enlarging  these  enterprises. 
The  want  of  concentration  of  talent  compels  those  who 
manage  them  to  resort  to  the  scissors  instead  of  the  pen  ; 
and  it  is  almost  as  necessary  for  an  American  editor  to  be 
expert  with  the  shears,  as  it  is  for  a  tailor.  Thus  the  public 
is  compelled  to  receive  hashes,  instead  of  fresh  dishes ;  and 
things  that  come  from  a  distance,  notoriously  possessing  a 
charm,  it  gets  the  original  cookery  of  London,  instead  of 
that  of  their  own  country. 

Prejudice  or  not,  confidence  is  not  a  bad  thing  when  a 
conflict  is  unavoidable.  It  may  be  well  to  respect  your 
enemy  down  to  the  very  moment  of  making  the  charge ; 
but,  that  commenced,  the  more  he  is  despised,  the  better. 
When  Diogenes  and  Neb  were  told  it  would  be  necessary 
to  go  over  again  the  work  so  lately  thought  to  be  completed, 
neither  of  the  negroes  manifested  the  least  concern.  Dio 
genes  had  been  in  the  Crisis,  as  well  as  Neb,  and  he  had  got 
to  entertain  a  very  Anglican  sort  of  notion  of  French 
prowess  on  the  water ;  and,  as  for  my  own  black,  he  would 
have  followed  without  the  slightest  remonstrance,  wherever 
"  Mosser  Mile  please  to  lead." 

"  They's  only  French,"  said  Diogenes,  in  a  philosophical 
sort  of  way ;  "  we  can  handle  'em  like  children." 

I  would  not  discourage  this  notion,  though  I  saw  its  folly. 
Telling  our  two  supporters  to  hold  themselves  ready  for  an 
attack,  Marble  and  I  left  them,  to  cogitate  and  commence 
the  manner  of  proceeding.  Whatever  was  done,  must  be 
done  that  night ;  there  being  reason  to  think  the  ship  would 
get  in  somewhere,  next  day. 

The  name  of  our  prize-master  was  Le  Gros.  He  was 
not  aptly  designated,  however,  being  a  little,  shrivelled,  yel 
low- faced  fellow,  who  did  not  seem  to  be  a  Hercules  at  all. 
Nevertheless,  nnliko  Sennit,  he  was  all  vigilance  and  activ 
ity.  He  never  left  the  deck,  and,  being  so  near  in  with  the 
coast,  I  felt  pretty  certain  we  should  have  his  company  above 
board  all  night.  Whatever  was  attempted,  therefore,  must 


226  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

be  attempted  in  defiance  of  his  watchfulness.  Nor  was  this 
all ;  additional  prudence  was  necessary,  since  we  were  so 
near  the  coast  as  greatly  to  increase  the  chance  of  our  being 
picked  up  by  some  other  French  cruiser,  should  we  even 
escape  from  this.  Extreme  caution  was  our  cue,  therefore, 
and  Marble  and  I  separated,  seemingly  each  to  take  his  re 
pose  with  a  perfect  understanding  on  all  these  points. 

Mons.  Le  Gros  paid  no  attention  to  the  state-rooms,  or  to 
the  accommodations  below.  His  whole  care  was  bestowed 
on  the  ship.  Apprehension  of  falling  in  with  some  British 
cruiser,  kept  his  eyes  wide  open,  and  his  gaze  constantly 
sweeping  the  horizon,  so  far  as  the  obscurity  would  allow. 
I  was  incessantly  on  the  alert  myself,  stealing  up  from  the 
cabin,  as  far  as  the  companion-way,  at  least  a  dozen  times 
in  the  course  of  the  night,  in  the  hope  of  finding  him  asleep ; 
but,  on  each  occasion,  I  saw  him  moving  up  and  down  the 
quarter-deck,  in  rapid  motion,  armed  to  the  teeth,  and  seem 
ingly  insensible  to  fatigue,  and  all  the  other  weaknesses  of 
nature.  It  was  useless  to  attempt  to  find  him  off  his  guard, 
and  worn  out,  Marble  and  myself  fell  into  deep  sleep,  about 
three  in  the  morning,  out  of  pure  exhaustion.  As  for  the 
two  negroes  they  slept  the  entire  night,  waiting  our  summons 
for  their  rallying  to  the  work.  Neb,  in  particular,  had  all 
the  absence  of  responsibility  that  distinguishes  the  existence 
of  a  slave,  feeling  very  much  the  same  unconcern  as  to  the 
movements  of  the  vessel,  as  any  other  human  being  feels 
in  connection  with  those  of  the  earth  in  which  he  is  a  pas 
senger. 

It  was  ten  o'clock  when  I  awoke,  refreshed,  but  disap 
pointed.  Marble  was  still  snoring  in  his  berth,  and  I  was 
compelled  to  give  him  a  call.  I  could  perceive  there  was  a 
breeze,  and  that  the  ship  was  going  through  the  water  fast ;  by 
her  lurching,  she  was  close  hauled.  It  takes  a  seaman  but  a 
minute  or  two  to  throw  on  his  loose  attire,  and  no  time  was 
lost  on  the  present  occasion.  While  my  mate  and  I  were  thus 
engaged,  the  former  happened  to  cast  a  look  out  of  the  cabin 
windows,  which  were  open  on  account  of  the  warmth  of 
the  weather,  and  offered  no  obstruction  to  a  long  view  of  the 
ocean  directly  in  our  wake. 

"  Halloo,  Miles  !"  Marble  exclaimed  ;  "  by  Jove,  we  are 
chased !  Such  is  the  secret  of  Mr.  Frog's  being  so  much 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  227 

alive  this  fine  morning.  Yonder  comes  a  frigate,  or  my 
name  is  not  OlofF  Marble." 

A  frigate  there  was,  sure  enough.  She  was  about  two 
leagues  astern  of  us,  and  resembled  a  pyramidal  cloud,  mo 
ving  along  the  water,  so  completely  were  her  spars  covered 
with  canvass.  That  she  was  an  Englishman  was  more  than 
probable,  from  the  cruising  ground,  as  well  as  from  the  fact 
of  the  prize-crew  running  from  her.  In  that  day,  no  French 
ship-of-war  loitered  long  at  any  particular  point,  her  ene 
mies  being  so  numerous  as  to  render  pursuit  certain,  ere 
many  hours  could  elapse.  After  determining  these  facts  in 
our  minds,  Marble  and  I  went  on  deck. 

My  first  look  was  ahead.  To  my  deep  regret  there  lay 
the  land,  actually  within  three  leagues  of  us !  The  wind 
was  fresh  at  north-east,  and  Monsieur  Le  Gros  appeared 
to  be  steering  for  a  group  of  islands  that  lay  a  little,  and 
ever  so  little,  on  our  lee  bow.  Brest  was  out  of  the  ques 
tion  ;  if  we  could  get  in  with  the  land,  among  these  islands, 
it  was  as  much  as  we  could  do,  before  the  racer  astern 
would  be  up  to  us.  The  Frenchmen  were  evidently  alarmed ; 
an  English  prison-ship,  with  all  its  known  horrors,  being 
very  vividly  placed  before  their  eyes.  Monsieur  Le  Gros 
screamed,  and  gave  twenty  orders  in  a  minute,  while  the 
other  sixteen  men  made  more  noise  than  would  be  heard 
among  a  thousand  Americans.  Heavens  !  what  a  clamour 
these  chaps  kept  up,  and  all  about  nothing,  too,  the  ship 
having  every  stitch  of  canvass  on  her  that  would  draw.  I 
felt  like  the  Arab  who  owned  the  rarest  mare  in  the  desert, 
but  who  was  coming  up  with  the  thief  who  had  stolen  her, 
himself  riding  an  inferior  beast,  and  all  because  the  rogue 
did  not  understand  the  secret  of  making  the  mare  do  her 
best.  "  Pinch  her  right  ear,  or  I  shall  overtake  you,"  called 
out  the  Arab ;  and  more  than  twenty  times  was  I  disposed 
to  trim  the  Dawn's  sails,  and  send  Neb  to  the  wheel,  in 
order  to  escape  the  disgrace  of  being  overhauled  by  the  fri 
gate.  There  was  a  chance  for  me,  however,  in  this  second 
recapture,  and  I  thought  it  preferable  to  let  things  take  their 
course.  My  new  conquerors  might  be  mystified,  whereas, 
there  was  little  hope  for  us,  should  Monsieur  Le  Gros  get 
in,  after  such  an  uproar. 

In  little  more  than  an  hour's  time,  the  Dawn  began  to 


228  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

shorten  sail,  hauling  up  her  courses  and  top-gallant-sails, 
rocks  showing  themselves  within  half  a  mile  of  her.  A 
large  boat  met  us  here,  coming  alongside,  as  soon  as  cer 
tain  who  we  were.  The  people  in  this  boat  were  fishermen, 
and  were  so  much  accustomed  to  all  the  movements  of  the 
coast,  that  they  understood  the  nature  of  the  affair  as  soon 
as  they  were  apprised  of  our  character.  Of  course  they 
were  eagerly  questioned  touching  the  possibility  of  the 
Dawn's  being  carried  in  through  any  of  the  rocky-looking 
passages  that  lay  before  us.  Monsieur  Le  Gros  looked 
very  blank  when  he  was  told  that  all  his  hopes  lay  in  there 
being  sufficient  water  in  one  channel,  and  of  that  the  fisher 
men  confessed  their  own  ignorance.  If  the  noise  and  con 
fusion  were  annoying  before  these  men  came  alongside,  it 
was  astounding  afterwards.  All  this  time  the  frigate  was 
drawing  near,  fast,  and  half  an  hour  would  certainly  bring 
her  within  gun-shot.  There  is  something  intoxicating  in  a 
race.  I  felt  a  strong  desire  to  get  away  from  the  English 
man  at  the  very  moment  I  believed  my  chances  for  justice 
would  be  worst  in  the  hands  of  the  French.  Feeling  the 
necessity  of  losing  no  time,  I  now  made  a  lively  appeal  to 
Monsieur  Le  Gros,  myself,  proposing  that  we  should  both 
go  in  with  the  fishing-boat  and  examine  the  passage  our 
selves.  By  using  proper  activity,  the  whole  might  be  done 
in  a  quarter  of  an  hour ;  we  should  then  know  whether  to 
carry  the  ship  in,  or  to  run  on  the  rocks  and  save  what  we 
could  of  the  cargo,  by  means  of  lighters. 

Order  on  board  ship  is  out  of  the  question  without  cool 
ness,  silence  and  submission.  A  fussy  sailor  is  always  a 
bad  sailor ;  calmness  and  quiet  being  the  great  requisites 
for  the  profession,  after  the  general  knowledge  is  obtained. 
No  really  good  officer  ever  makes  a  noise  except  when  the 
roar  of  the  elements  renders  it  indispensable,  in  order  to  be 
heard.  In  that  day,  French  ships  of  war  did  not  under 
stand  this  important  secret,  much  less  French  privateers.  I 
can  only  liken  the  clamour  that  was  now  going  on  in  the 
Dawn's  lee-gangway,  to  that  which  is  raised  by  Dutch  fish- 
women,  on  the  arrival  of  the  boats  from  sea  with  their  car 
goes.  To  talk  of  Billingsgate  in  comparison  with  these 
women,  is  to  do  the  Holland  and  Flemish  ladies  gross  injus 
tice,  English  phlegm  being  far  more  silent  than  Dutch 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  229 

phlegm!  No  sooner  was  my  proposition  made  than  it  was 
accepted  by  acclamation,  and  the  privateersmen  began  to 
pour  into  the  boat,  heels  over  head,  without  order,  and  I 
may  say  without  orders.  Monsieur  Le  Gros  was  carried 
off  in  the  current,  and,  when  the  fishermen  cast  off,  but 
three  Frenchmen  were  left  in  the  ship ;  all  the  others  had 
been  swept  away  by  a  zeal  to  be  useful,  that  was  a  little 
quickened,  perhaps,  by  the  horrors  of  an  English  prison- 
ship. 

Even  Diogenes  laughed  at  the  random  manner  in  which 
we  were  thus  left  in  possession  of  our  own.  There  is  no 
question  that  the  French  intended  to  return  ;  while  there  is 
no  question  it  was  also  their  intention  to  go.  In  short,  they 
were  in  a  tumult,  and  acted  under  an  impulse,  instead  of 
under  the  government  of  their  reasons. 

"  You  will  have  the  complaisance,  Mons.  Wallingford," 
cried  Le  Gros,  as  the  boat  started  away  from  the  ship's 
side,  "  to  fill  the  top-sail,  and  run  for  the  passage,  when  we 
wave  our  hats." 

"  Ay — ay,"  I  answered  ;  "  leave  it  to  me  to  fill  the  top 
sails,  and  to  give  the  John  Bulls  the  slip." 

This  was  said  in  French,  and  it  drew  cries  of  "  Bon !" 
and  of  "  Vive  la  France !"  from  all  in  the  boat.  What  the 
fellows  thought,  I  will  not  pretend  to  say ;  but  if  they  thought 
they  were  to  get  on  board  the  Dawn  again,  they  did  not 
know  the  men  they  left  behind  them.  As  for  the  French 
men  who  remained,  Marble  and  I  could  have  managed  them 
alone ;  and  I  was  glad  they  were  with  us,  since  they  could 
be  made  to  pull  and  haul. 

The  ship  was  under  her  three  top-sails,  spanker  and  jib, 
when  Mons.  Le  Gros  thus  singularly  gave  her  up  to  my 
control;  the  main-yard  lying  square.  My  first  step  was 
to  fill  the  top-sail,  and  gather  way  on  the  vessel.  This  was 
goon  done ;  and,  keeping  away,  I  stood  on  towards  the 
rocks,  which  soon  bore  on  our  weather  bow,  determined  to 
run  as  near  them  as  I  dared,  thinking  to  frighten  the  Eng 
lishman  so  much,  as  to  induce  him  to  keep  at  arm's-length. 
I  might  cast  away  the  ship,  it  is  true ;  but  even  this  would 
be  preferable  to  falling  again  into  English  hands,  with  all 
the  occurrences  still  so  recent.  A  year  or  two  later,  the 
affair  of  the  Speedy's  men  might  be  forgotten ;  but  while  a 
20 


230  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

I 

thing  is  fresh,  there  is  always  some  danger  of  its  creating 
feeling.  At  least,  thus  I  reasoned,  and  thus  I  acted. 

Once  more  I  had  the  Dawn  under  my  own  orders ;  and, 
could  I  keep  the  frigate  out  of  gun-shot,  I  cared  very  little 
for  Mons.  Le  Gros.  At  first,  the  privateersmen  supposed 
that,  in  filling  away,  I  merely  intended  to  further  their  views; 
but,  no  sooner  did  they  perceive  the  ship  standing  on  to  lee 
ward  of  the  passage,  than  the  truth  seemed  to  flash  on  their 
befogged  faculties.  This  was  not  until  the  depth  of  water 
was  ascertained  to  be  sufficient  for  their  purposes  ;  and  such 
a  flourishing  of  tarpaulins  and  greasy  caps  as  succeeded,  I 
had  not  witnessed  for  many  a  day.  All  these  signals  and 
calls,  however,  were  disregarded ;  but  away  went  the  Dawn, 
with  her  yards  just  rounded  in  a  point,  with  the  wind  fairly 
a-beam,  coasting  along  as  near  the  islands  as  I  thought  it 
at  all  prudent  to  venture.  As  for  the  frigate,  she  was  still 
keeping  her  luff,  in  order  to  get  far  enough  to  windward  to 
make  sure  of  her  prey.  At  this  moment,  the  two  ships 
might  have  been  a  league  asunder. 

Mons.  Le  Gros  was  no  sooner  aware  of  the  trick  I  had 
played  him,  than  out  he  dashed  with  his  fishing-boat,  making 
sail  in  chase,  and  helping  his  dull  craft  along  with  half  a 
dozen  oars.  Seeing  this,  I  let  the  fore-sail  drop,  and  sheeted 
home  and  hoisted  the  main-top-gallant-sail ;  not  that  I  felt 
at  all  afraid  of  the  boat,  but  because  it  was  my  wish  to  avoid 
bloodshed,  if  possible.  Among  the  other  absurdities  the 
French  had  committed,  in  their  haste  to  get  away  from  the 
frigate,  was  that  of  leaving  six  or  eight  muskets,  with  sev 
eral  cartridge-boxes,  behind  them.  With  these  weapons,  it 
would  have  been  easy  for  us  to  have  given  the  privateers- 
men  such  a  hint,  as  would  not  fail  to  keep  them  at  bay. 
Then  I  always  had  my  pistols,  which  were  not  only  valu 
able  implements,  but  were  double-barrelled  and  well  loaded. 
Our  only  ground  of  alarm,  therefore,  came  from  the  Eng 
lishman. 

Possibly,  Monsieur  Le  Gros  thought  differently;  for  his 
chase  was  animated,  and  apparently  in  earnest.  But,  not 
withstanding  all  his  zeal,  the  Dawn  left  him  astern,  going 
through  the  water  at  the  rate  of  about  six  knots.  But  the 
frigate  was  coming  up  at  the  rate  of  eight  knots,  making  it 
certain  that  she  would  get  us  under  her  guns  in  an  hour  or 


MILES     WAtLINGFORD.  231 

two  at  most,  unless  some  great  advantage  was  obtained  ovel 
her  by  means  of  the  complicated  navigation,  and  shallow 
water. 

When  at  Bordeaux,  the  previous  year,  I  had  purchased 
u  chart  of  the  French  coast,  with  a  book  containing  direc 
tions  similar  to  those  which  are  to  be  found  in  our  own 
*'  Coasting  Pilot."  As  a  matter  of  course,  I  had  them  both 
with  me,  and  I  found  them  of  great  service  on  this  occasion. 
The  text  described  the  islands  we  were  near  as  being  sepa 
rated  by  narrow  channels  of  deep  water,  in  which  the 
danger  was  principally  owing  to  sunken  rocks.  It  was 
these  rocks  that  had  induced  the  fishermen  to  pronounce  the 
passages  impracticable;  and  my  coasting  directions  cau 
tioned  all  navigators  to  be  wary  in  approaching  them. 
The  Dawn,  however,  was  in  precisely  the  situation  which 
might  render  these  rocks  of  the  last  service  to  her ;  and, 
preferring  shipwreck  to  seeing  my  vessel  in  either  English 
or  French  hands,  again,  I  determined  to  trust  to  the  very 
dangers  of  the  navigation  as  my  safeguard.  I  might  go 
clear  of  the  bottom,  but  it  was  certain,  if  I  kept  outside,  I 
could  not  escape  from  the  frigate.  An  accidental  occur 
rence,  in  connection  with  the  boat,  favoured  us,  and  I  was 
not  slow  to  profit  by  the  advantage  it  offered.  Finding  it 
impossible  to  come  up  with  the  ship  by  keeping  in  her  wake, 
Monsieur  Le  Gros  had  taken  a  short  cut,  in  the  boat,  be 
tween  some  islets  that  we  were  obliged  to  round,  and  he 
actually  came  out  ahead  of  us.  Instead  of  endeavouring  to 
close  with  the  ship,  however,  he  led  into  an  excessively  nar 
row  passage,  making  furious  gestures  for  us  to  follow.  This 
was  at  the  instant  when  the  frigate  fired  her  first  gun  at  us, 
the  shot  of  which  just  fell  a  very  little  short.  Did  we  pass 
the  channel  in  which  Monsieur  Le  Gros  had  carried  the 
boat,  we  should  fall  to  leeward  of  the  whole  group  of  islands, 
— or  islets,  would  be  the  better  word, — when  all  would 
literally  depend  on  our  heels.  There  was  but  a  moment  in 
which  to  decide ;  in  another  minute,  the  ship  would  be  past 
the  opening,  which  could  only  be  regained  by  tacking,  if  it 
could  be  regained  at  all.  I  gave  the  order  to  luff. 

Our  three  Frenchmen,  fancying  themselves  now  certainly 
bound  to  la  belle  France,  were  as  active  as  cats.  Neb  and 
Diogenes  throwing  their  powerful  force  on  the  braces  with  a 


232  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

good-will,  too,  we  soon  had  the  Dawn  braced  sharp  up, 
heading  well  to  windward  of  the  passage.  Monsieur  Le 
Gros  was  delighted.  Apparently,  he  thought  all  was  right, 
again;  and  he  led  the  way,  flourishing  both  hands,  while  all 
in  the  boat,  fishermen  inclusive,  were  bawling,  and  shouting, 
and  gesticulating,  in  a  way  that  would  certainly  have  con 
fused  us,  had  I  cared  a  straw  about  them.  I  thought  it  well 
enough  to  follow  the  boat ;  but,  as  for  their  cries,  they  were 
disregarded.  Had  Monsieur  Le  Gros  seen  fit  to  wait  for 
the  ship  in  the  narrowest  part  of  the  inlet,  he  might  have 
embarrassed  us ;  but,  so  far  from  this,  he  appeared  to  be 
entirely  carried  away  by  the  excitement  of  the  chase,  and 
was  as  eager  to  push  ahead,  as  a  boy  who  was  struggling 
to  be  first  in  at  the  goal. 

It  was  a  nervous  instant  when  the  Dawn's  bow  first 
entered  the  narrow  passage.  The  width,  from  rock  to  rock, 
speaking  only  of  visible  things,  might  have  been  thirty 
fathoms  ;  and  this  strait  narrowed,  rather  than  widened,  for 
several  hundred  feet,  until  it  was  reduced  fully  one-third. 
The  tide  ran  like  a  mill-tail,  and  it  was,  perhaps,  lucky  for 
us  that  there  was  no  time  for  reflection  or  irresolution ;  the 
aspect  of  things  being  so  serious  as  might  well  have  thrown 
the  most  decided  man  into  uncertainty  and  doubt.  The 
current  sucked  the  vessel  in,  like  the  Maelstrom,  and  we  were 
whirling  ahead  at  a  rate  that  would  have  split  the  ship  from 
her  keel  to  her  top-timbers,  had  we  come  upon  a  sunken 
rock.  The  chances  were  about  even ;  for  I  regarded  the 
pilotage  as  a  very  random  sort  of  an  aflair.  We  glanced  on 
in  breathless  expectation,  therefore ;  not  knowing  but  each 
instant  would  involve  us  in  ruin. 

This  jeopardy  endured  about  five  minutes.  At  the  end 
of  that  brief  space,  the  ship  had  run  the  gauntlet  for  the 
distance  of  a  mile,  driven  onward  by  the  current  rather 
than  by  the  wind.  So  tremendous  was  our  velocity  in  the 
narrowest  part,  that  I  actually  caught  myself  grasping  the 
rail  of  the  ship,  as  we  glanced  past  the  rocks,  as  if  to  keep 
myself  from  a  fall.  The  French  gave  a  loud  and  general 
shout  just  as  the  boat  issued  out  of  this  race-way  into  a 
wide  capacious  bay,  within  the  group  of  islands,  which  had 
the  appearance  of  forming  a  roadstead  of  some  note.  There 
was  a  battery  on  the  end  of  the  last  island,  a  light-house 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  233 

and  a  cluster  of  fishermen's  huts ;  all  indicating  that  the 
place  was*  one  of  considerable  resort. 

Monsieur  Le  Gros  was  waiting  for  us,  about  two  cable's- 
lengths  from  the  place  where  we  issued  into  the  bay,  having 
considerately  chosen  an  anchorage  for  us,  at  a  point  com 
manded  by  the  four  six-and-thirty  pounders  of  the  battery. 
The  distance  enabled  me  to  look  about.  Within  the  range 
of  islands  was  a  sort  of  sound,  quite  a  league  in  width,  and 
on  this  sound  the  main  coast  presented  several  bays  in 
which  coasters  were  at  anchor.  Most  of  the  prominent 
points  had  small  batteries,  of  no  great  force  as  against  a  fleet, 
or  even  against  a  single  heavy  ship,  but  which  were  suffi 
ciently  formidable  to  keep  a  sloop  of  war  or  a  frigate  at  a 
respectable  distance.  As  all  the  guns  were  heavy,  a  vessel 
passing  through  the  middle  of  this  sound  would  hardly  be 
safe;  more  especially  did  the  gunners  do  their  duty.  By 
anchoring  at  the  spot  where  the  boat  waited  for  us,  we  at 
once  gave  up  the  ship  to  the  privateersmen,  the  battery  first 
mentioned  commanding  that  point  completely.  As  good 
luck  would  have  it,  however,  an  expedient  offered,  in  the 
direction  of  the  wind  and  tide,  which  were  opposed  to  each 
other,  and  I  availed  myself  of  the  circumstance  as  promptly 
as  possible. 

Do  our  best,  the  Dawn  could  not  fetch  the  spot  where  the 
boat  had  dropped  her  kedge.  We  passed  within  hail  of  it, 
notwithstanding,  and  loud  were  the  calls  to  us  to  shorten 
sail  and  anchor,  as  we  came  within  hearing.  Affecting  to 
be  anxious  to  get  up  to  the  precise  point  where  the  boat  lay, 
I  mystified  Monsieur  Le  Gros  in  my  answers,  telling  him  I 
would  stand  on  a  short  distance,  or  until  I  could  fetch  him, 
when  I  would  tack.  As  this  was  intelligible  it  satisfied  my 
captors,  though  a  hundred  "  n'importes"  were  yelled  after 
us ;  and  "  rfimporte"  it  was,  in  fact,  one  spot  being  just  as 
good  to  anchor  in  as  another,  for  half  a  league  all  round  us. 

The  Dawn  did  her  duty  that  day ;  and  there  was  occa 
sion  for  it,  the  frigate  still  continuing  the  chase.  The  cir 
cuit  she  had  to  make,  and  the  berth  she  thought  it  prudent 
to  give  the  first  battery,  enabled  us  to  gain  011  her  materi 
ally.  When  we  passed  the  boat,  the  Englishman's  upper 
sails  were  visible  on  the  outside  of  the  island,  flying  along 
the  rocks  at  a  rate  that  spoke  well  of  his  heels.  He  rounded 
20* 


234  MILES    WALLINOPORD. 

the  point  when  we  were  mid-sound,  but  here  the  battery 
served  us  a  good  turn,  for,  instead  of  hauling  up  close  by 
the  wind,  the  English  were  obliged  to  run  off  with  the  wind 
free,  to  keep  out  of  harm's  way.  Their  presence,  notwith 
standing,  was  probably  of  great  service  to  the  Dawn,  for 
*.here  had  been  a  communication  between  Monsieur  Le  Gros 
and  the  battery,  by  means  of  a  small  boat  sent  from  the  lat 
ter,  and  we  should  have  been  very  likely  to  have  a  messen 
ger,  in  the  shape  of  a  shot,  sent  after  us,  when  it  was  seen 
we  continued  to  stand  across  for  the  main  instead  of  tack 
ing  for  the  designated  anchorage,  had  not  the  men  in  the 
battery  had  the  higher  game  of  the  frigate  in  view.  As 
soon  as  John  Bull  got  within  range,  the  gunners  began  to 
play  on  him,  but  it  was  at  a  distance  that  rendered  their  fire 
next  to  useless. 

Any  one  in  the  least  acquainted  with  the  movements  of 
ships,  will  understand  the  advantage  we  now  possessed. 
The  Dawn  was  beating  through  a  good  wide  passage,  with 
a  young  flood  breasting  her  to  windward,  and  a  steady  six- 
knot  breeze  blowing.  The  passage  between  these  islands 
and  the  main  was  about  four  leagues  long,  while  that  which 
the  fishermen  had  wished  us  first  to  enter  was  near  the 
middle  of  the  group.  We  were  already  a  mile  from  the 
boat,  and  considerably  to  windward  of  her,  the  tide  having 
done  that  much  for  us,  when  Mons.  Le  Gros  saw  fit  to  lift 
his  kedge,  and  commence  a  new  pursuit.  He  had  the  sa 
gacity  to  see  that  we  should  soon  be  obliged  to  tack,  on 
account  of  the  main  coast,  and  to  stand  over  towards  the 
island,  again  :  accordingly,  instead  of  following  in  our  wake, 
he  profited  by  the  set  of  the  current,  and  pulled  directly  to 
windward,  with  a  view  to  cut  us  off.  All  this  we  very 
plainly  saw,  but  we  cared  very  little  for  Mons.  Le  Gros  and 
his  boat.  The  ship  could  out-sail  the  last,  very  easily,  in 
such  a  breeze,  and  it  was  always  in  our  power  to  tack  in 
mid-channel,  instead  of  crossing  her,  or  coming  near  her, 
at  all.  The  frigate  gave  me  much  more  trouble. 

The  Englishman,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  was  a  French- 
built  ship  called  the  Fortunee ;  or,  as  Jack  termed  her,  now 
she  had  got  to  be  designated  in  the  Anglo-Saxon  dialect, 
the  Fortunee  which  was  liberally  rendered  into  the  verna 
cular,  as  the  "  Happy-Go-Lucky."  She  was  an  old  ship, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  235 

but  an  exceedingly  fast  one,  and  her  commander  had  ren 
dered  himself  famous  by  the  manner  in  which  he  ventured 
about  on  the  French  coast.  This  was  the  third  time  he  had 
gone  through  this  very  sound  in  spite  of  the  batteries ;  and 
having  some  experience  in  the  windings  and  turnings,  he 
was  now  much  better  able  to  get  along  scatheless,  than  on 
the  two  former  occasions.  As  soon  as  he  thought  himself 
at  a  safe  distance  from  the  six-and-thirties,  he  hauled  up, 
and  made  five  short  stretches  near  the  main,  where  he  had 
much  the  best  of  the  tide,  and  the  whole  strength  of  the 
oreeze,  and  where  there  was  nothing  to  molest  him ;  the 
isual  roadstead  being  under  the  island  of  course. 

The  first  hour  sufficed  to  let  me  understand  there  was  no 
chance  of  escaping  the  frigate ;  if  we  continued  to  beat  up 
through  the  passage,  we  might  reach  its  western  end  a  little 
in  advance  of  her  it  is  true,  but  no  hope  at  all  of  getting 
away,  would  remain  when  we  again  reached  the  open  ocean, 
and  she  in-shore  of  us.  In  this  dilemma,  Marble  made  one 
of  his  happy  suggestions,  my  merit  amounting  to  no  more 
than  seizing  the  right  moment,  and  carrying  out  his  idea 
with  promptitude.  The  passage  first  named  lay  in  a  line  with 
us,  and  we  had  every  reason  to  believe  the  ship  could  go 
through  it.  When  we  were  invited  to  enter,  the  tide  was 
not  as  high  by  six  feet,  as  it  had  now  risen  to  be,  and  my 
mate  suggested  the  expedient  of  trying  it,  in  going  out. 

"  The  Englishman  will  never  dare  follow  on  account  of 
the  battery  which  lies  on  the  side  of  it,"  he  added,  "  where 
as  the  French  will  not  fire  at  us,  believing  us  to  be  escaping 
from  a  common  enemy." 

The  whole  force  of  what  had  been  said  flashed  upon  me, 
in  an  instant.  I  set  the  tri-color  over  a  British  ensign,  to 
cause  the  people  of  this  second  battery  to  think  us  an  Eng 
lish  prize,  and  stood  straight  for  the  pass,  just  without  which 
lay  a  small  brig  at  anchor.  In  order  to  make  the  decep 
tion  more  complete,  we  hauled  up  our  courses,  and  let  run 
the  top-gallant  halyards,  as  if  ready  to  bring  up.  Seeing 
this,  Mons.  Le  Gros  fancied  we  were  about  to  anchor  under 
the  battery,  and  that  we  had  hoisted  our  flags  to  taunt  the 
English,  for  caps  and  hats  were  waved  in  exultation  in  the 
boat,  then  distant  from  us  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  We  pass 
ed  close  to  the  brig,  which  greeted  us  with  acclamations 


236  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

and  llvives  la  France"  as  we  swept  by  her.  My  eye  was 
on  the  battery,  the  whole  time.  It  was  built  to  command 
the  roadstead,  and  without  any  reference  to  the  pass,  which 
no  enemy  would  be  apt  to  attempt.  It  is  true,  two  heavy 
guns  bore  on  this  entrance,  but  they  were  in  a  detached  work, 
that  was  never  manned  except  in  emergencies. 

I  drew  a  long  breath,  and  felt  a  mountain  removed  from 
my  very  soul,  as  the  ship  passed  out  of  the  range  of  the 
last  gun  in  the  little  semi-circle.  The  soldiers  were  making 
gestures  to  us  to  indicate  we  were  getting  too  far  west  for  a 
good  berth/*but  we  heeded  them  not.  Instead  of  shortening 
sail,  the  fore  and  main  tacks  were  boarded,  and  the  top-gal 
lant-sails  set.  This  revealed  our  intention,  and  the  clamour 
on  the  shore  even  reached  the  ship.  Preparations  were 
making  to  get  a  piece  of  light  artillery  to  bear  on  us,  and 
some  twenty  gunners  began  to  scamper  towards  the  de 
tached  battery.  The  whole  thing  was  now  reduced  to  a 
sheer  race.  We  passed  the  last  battery  ten  minutes  before 
the  French  could  reach  it,  the  latter  having  to  go  round  a 
considerable  bay  ;  and  six  minutes  later,  we  went  out  to  sea, 
with  the  American  ensign,  and  jacks,  and  pennants  flying 
at  each  mast-head,  and  wherever  else  such  an  emblem  of  tri 
umph  could  be  shown ! 


CHAPTEK  XYII. 

u  O,  I  am  out  of  breath  in  this  fond  chase ! 
The  more  my  prayer,  the  lesser  is  my  grace." 

SnAKSl'EARE. 

MARBLE  and  I  looked  each  other  in  the  face,  and  thr.i 
burst  into  a  laugh,  as  the  French  fired  a  single  shot  from 
the  two-gun  battery,  which  flew  beyond  us,  but  which  could 
scarcely  hit  us  on  account  of  some  intervening  rocks.  1 
altered  the  course  of  the  ship  in  order  to  get  a  little  more 
out  of  the  range  ;  after  this,  we  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the 
French.  The  boat  did  not  attempt  to  follow  us,  and  thus 
ended  our  communication  with  le  Polisson,  and  her  people, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  237 

at  that  time.  As  for  la  Fortunee,  it  would  require  at  least 
four  hours  for  her  to  beat  round  the  end  of  the  cluster  of 
islands,  and  seeing  the  hopelessness  of  doing  this  in  time  to 
overtake  such  a  ship  as  the  Dawn,  her  commander  made  a 
dash  in  at  the  unfortunate  brig,  which  he  actually  succeeded 
in  cutting  out  from  the  roadstead,  in  spite  of  all  the  defences 
of  the  place.  The  last  I  heard  of  these  gentlemen,  was 
the  reports  of  the  guns  that  were  exchanged  between  the 
battery  and  the  frigate,  while  the  last  I  saw  of  them,  was 
the  smoke  that  floated  over  the  spot,  long  after  the  islands 
had  sunk  beneath  the  horizon.  The  Dawn  stood  directly 
out  to  sea,  with  the  wind  still  at  the  northward,  though  it 
had  drawn  more  through  the  pass  inshore. 

"  Well,  Miles,"  cried  Marble,  as  he  and  I  sat  eating  our 
dinner  on  deck,  where  Neb  had  been  ordered  to  serve  it, 
"  you  know  what  I  've  always  said  of  your  luck.  It 's  proof 
ag'in  every  thing  but  Providence !  Die  you  must  and  will, 
some  of  these  times  ;  but,  not  until  you  've  done  something 
remarkable.  Sail  with  you,  my  boy!  I  consider  your 
company  a  standing  policy  of  insurance,  and  have  no  sort 
of  consarn  about  fortin,  while  I'm  under  your  orders. 
With  any  other  man,  I  should  be  nothing  but  a  bloody  her 
mit,  instead  of  the  dutiful  son  and  affectionate  uncle  I  am. 
But,  what  do  you  mean  to  perform  next  ?" 

"  I  have  been  thinking,  Moses,  our  best  step  will  be  to 
shape  our  course  for  Hamburg,  whither  we  are  bound. 
This  northerly  wind  can't  last  long  at  this  season,  and 
another  south-wester  would  just  serve  our  turn.  In  ten 
days,  or  a  fortnight,  we  might  make  our  haven." 

"  And  then  those  French  chaps  that  are  attacking  yonder 
kid  of  pork,  as  if  it  were  a  wild  beast ;  the  fellows  never 
saw  good  solid  food  before  !" 

"Feed  them  well, — treat  them  well — and  make  them 
work.  They  would  never  think  of  troubling  us ;  nor  do  I 
suppose  they  know  anything  of  navigation.  I  see  they 
smoke  and  chew ;  we  will  give  'em  as  much  tobacco  as  their 
hearts  can  wish,  or  their  mouths  hold ;  and  this  will  keep 
them  in  good  humour." 

"  And  John  Bull  ?" 

"  Why,  John  is  another  sort  of  a  person  to  deal  with,  cer 
tainly.  I  nm  not  sure  that  a  third  English  cruiser  would 


MILES    WALLINOFORD. 

molest  us.  We  can  keep  our  own  secret  concerning  Sennit 
and  his  party ;  and  we  may  not  meet  with  another,  after  all. 
My  plan  is  to  run  close  in  with  the  English  coast,  and  show 
our  colours  boldly  ; — now,  nine  in  ten  of  the  British  men- 
of-war  will  let  us  pass  unquestioned,  believing  we  are  bound 
to  London,  unless  they  happen  to  have  one  of  those  press 
ing  gentry,  like  Sennit,  on  board.  I  have  often  been  told 
that  ships  which  pass  close  in  with  the  English  coast,  gene 
rally  pass  unquestioned ;  by  the  large  craft,  uniformly ; — 
though  they  may  have  something  to  apprehend  from  the 
brigs  and  cutters.  Your  small-fry  always  give  the  most 
trouble,  Moses." 

"  We  have  not  found  it  so  this  v'y'ge,  Miles.  However, 
you  're  not  only  captain,  but  you  're  owner ;  and  I  leave 
you  to  paddle  your  own  canoe.  We  must  go  somewhere ; 
and  I  will  not  say  your  plan  is  not  as  good  as  any  I  can 
start,  with  thirty  years  more  of  experience." 

We  talked  the  matter  over,  canvassing  it  in  all  its  bear 
ings,  until  it  was  settled  to  adopt  it. 

The  ship  was  steered  large,  until  the  French  coast  was 
entirely  sunk ;  and  then  we  trimmed  her  by  the  wind,  head 
ing  up  as  near  to  our  course  as  the  breeze  would  permit. 
Nothing  occurred  in  the  course  of  the  remainder  of  the  day 
to  produce  either  trouble  or  uneasiness,  though 'my  three 
Frenchmen  came  to  certain  explanations  with  me,  that  at 
first  menaced  a  little  difficulty.  They  refused  to  work ; 
and  I  was  compelled  to  tell  them,  I  should  put  them  on  board 
the  first  English  vessel  of  war  we  met.  This  had  the  de 
sired  effect ;  and,  after  an  amicable  discussion,  I  agreed  to 
pay  them  high  wages  on  our  arrival  in  a  friendly  port :  and 
they  agreed  to  serve  me  as  well  as  they  knew  how.  Seven 
men  were  rather  less  than  half  a  crew  for  a  vessel  of  the 
Dawn's  size,  but  it  was  possible  to  get  along  with  that  num 
ber.  The  steering  was  the  hardest  part  of  the  duty — neither 
of  the  Frenchmen  being  able  to  take  his  trick  at  the  helm. 
We  got  along  with  the  necessary  work,  however ;  and  so 
glad  were  we  all  to  be  rid  of  both  English  and  French,  that 
I  hazard  little  in  saying1,  we  would  have  endured  twice  as 
much,  cheerfully,  could  we  be  certain  of  meeting  no  more 
of  their  cruisers.  Providence  had  ordered  matters  very  dif 
ferently. 


MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

That  night  the  wind  shifted  again  to  the  southward  and 
westward.  We  braced  in  the  yards,  and  brought  the  ship 
to  her  course ;  but  I  thought  it  best  not  to  carry  sail  hard  in 
the  dark.  Accordingly,  I  left  orders  to  be  called  at  sunrise, 
Marble  having  the  watch  at  that  hour.  When  I  came  on 
deck,  in  consequence  of  this  summons,  I  found  my  mate 
examining  the  horizon  with  some  earnestness,  as  if  he  were 
looking  for  strangers. 

"  We  are  a  merry  party  this  morning,  Captain  Walling- 
ford,"  Marble  cried  out,  as  soon  as  he  saw  me.  "  I  have 
found  no  less  than  six  sail  in  sight,  since  the  day  dawned." 

"  I  hope  that  neither  is  a  lugger.  I  feel  more  afraid  of 
this  Pol isson,  just  now,  than  of  all  the  names  in  Christen 
dom.  That  fellow  must  be  cruising  in  the  chops  of  the 
channel,  and  we  are  working  our  way  well  in  towards  that 
part  of  the  world." 

"  I  hope  so  too,  sir ;  but  this  chap,  out  here  at  north-west 
has  a  suspicious,  lugger-like  look.  It  may  be  that  I  see 
only  the  heads  of  his  topsails,  but  they  are  amazingly  like 
luggs !" 

I  now  took  a  survey  of  the  ocean  for  myself.  The  ves 
sel  Marble  distrusted,  I  unhesitatingly  pronounced  to  be  a 
lugger;  quite  as  likely  the  Polisson  as  any  other  craft. 
The  other  four  vessels  were  all  ships,  the  five  forming  a 
complete  circle,  of  which  the  Dawn  was  in  the  centre.  The 
lugger,  however,  was  some  miles  the  nearest  to  us,  while  as 
to  the  strangers,  if  they  saw  each  other  across  the  diameter 
of  the  circle  at  all,  it  was  as  much  as  was  possible.  Under 
the  circumstances,  it  struck  me  our  wisest  way  was  to  keep 
steadily  on  our  course,  like  honest  people.  Marble  was  of 
the  same  opinion,  and  to  say  the  truth,  there  was  little 
choice  in  the  matter,  the  ship  being  so  completely  surround 
ed.  The  worst  feature  of  the  case  was  our  position,  which 
would  be  certain  to  draw  all  the  cruisers  to  the  centre,  and 
consequently  to  ourselves. 

Two  hours  produced  a  material  change.  All  five  of  tho 
strangers  had  closed  in  upon  us,  and  we  were  now  able  to 
form  tolerably  accurate  notions  of  their  characters.  The 
two  astern,  one  on  our  larboard,  and  one  on  our  starboard 
quarter,  were  clearly  heavy  vessels  and  consorts,  though 
of  what  nation  it  was  not  yet  so  easy  to  decide.  That  they 


240  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

were  consorts  was  apparent  by  their  signalling  one  another, 
and  by  the  manner  in  which  they  were  closing ;  as  they 
carried  studding-sails,  alow  and  aloft,  they  were  coming  up 
with  us  fast,  and  in  all  probability  would  be  alongside  in 
two  or  three  hours  more. 

Two  of  the  ships  ahead  struck  me  as  frigates,  having 
their  broadsides  exposed  to  us :  we  had  raised  one  line  of 
ports,  but  it  was  possible  they  might  turn  out  to  be  two- 
deckers  ;  ships  of  war  they  were,  beyond  all  question,  and 
I  fancied  them  English  from  the  squareness  of  their  upper 
sails.  They,  too,  were  consorts,  making  signals  to  each 
other,  and  closing  fast  on  opposite  tacks.  The  lugger  was 
no  longer  equivocal :  it  was  the  Polisson,  and  she  was 
standing  directly  for  us,  though  it  was  ticklish  business, 
since  the  remaining  ship,  a  corvette,  as  I  fancied,  was 
already  in  her  wake,  carrying  sail  hard,  going  like  a  witch, 
and  only  about  two  leagues  astern. 

Monsieur  Gallois  had  so  much  confidence  in  his  heels, 
that  he  stood  on,  regardless  of  his  pursuer.  I  thought  it 
best  to  put  a  bold  face  on  the  matter,  knowing  that  suffi 
cient  time  misjht  be  wasted  to  enable  the  sloop  of  war  to 
get  near  enough  to  prevent  the  privateer  from  again  man 
ning  us.  My  principal  apprehension  was,  that  he  might 
carry  us  all  off,  in  revenge  for  what  had  happened,  and  set 
fire  to  the  ship.  Against  either  of  these  steps,  however,  I 
should  offq»  all  the  resistance  in  my  power. 

It  was  just  ten  o'clock  when  the  Polisson  ranged  up 
abeam  of  us  the  second  time,  and  we  hove-to.  It  was  evi 
dent  the  French  recognised  us,  and  the  clamour  that  suc 
ceeded  must  have  resembled  that  of  Babel,  when  the  people 
began  first  to  converse  without  making  themselves  under 
stood.  Knowing  we  had  no  small  boat,  Monsieur  Gallois 
lost  no  time,  but  lowering  a  yawl  of  his  own,  he  came 
alongside  of  us  in  person.  As  I  had  commanded  the  three 
Frenchmen  to  remain  below,  he  found  no  one  on  dock  but 
Marble,  Diogenes,  Neb  and  myself. 

"  Parbleu,  Monsieur  Vallingfort !"  exclaimed  the  priva- 
teersman,  saluting  me  very  civilly  notwithstanding  appear 
ances — "  c*est  bien  extraordinaire!  Vat  you  do  vid  me 
men — eh  !  Put  'em  in  ze  zea,  comme  avec  le  Anglais  ?" 

I  was  spared  the  necessity  of  any  explanation,  by  the  sudden 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  241 

appearance  of  my  own  three  prisoners,  who  disregarded 
my  orders,  and  came  rushing  up  to  their  proper  commander, 
open-mouthed  and  filled  with  zeal  to  relate  all  that  had 
passed.  The  whole  three  broke  out  at  once,  and  a  scene 
that  was  sufficiently  ludicrous  followed.  It  was  a  continued 
volley  of  words,  exclamations,  oaths,  and  compliments  to 
the  American  character,  so  blended,  as  to  render  it  out  of 
the  question  that  Mons.  Gallois  could  understand  them.  The 
latter  found  himself  obliged  to  appeal  to  me.  I  gave  a  very 
frank  account  of  the  whole  affair,  in  English ;  a  language 
that  my  captor  understood  much  better  than  he  spoke, 

Mons.  Gallois  had  the  rapacity  of  a  highwayman,  but  it 
was  singularly  blended  with  French  politeness.  He  had  not 
always  been  a  privateersman — a  calling  that  implies  an  un 
due  love  of  gold  ;  and  he  was  quite  capable  of  distinguish 
ing  between  right  and  wrong,  in  matters  in  which  his  own 
pocket  had  no  direct  concern.  As  soon  as  he  comprehended 
the  affair,  he  began  to  laugh,  and  to  cry  "  Bon !"  I  saw 
he  was  in  a  good  humour,  and  not  likely  to  resent  what  had 
happened  ;  and  I  finished  my  history  in  somewhat  sarcastic 
language,  portraying  Mons.  Le  Gros's  complaisance  in  quit 
ting  the  ship  and  in  piloting  her  about  the  bay,  a  little  drily, 
perhaps.  There  were  sundry  " sacr~r-r-es"  and  "betes" 
uttered  the  while  ;  but  all  came  out  freely  and  without  anger, 
as  if  Mons.  Gallois  thought  a  good  joke  the  next  thing  to  a 
good  prize. 

"  Tenez,  mon  ami  /"  he  cried,  squeezing  my  hand,  as  he 
looked  round  at  the  corvette,  now  less  than  a  league  distant, 
"  You  are  vat  you  Anglais  call  '  good  fellow.'  J'admire 
votre  esprit !  You  have  escape  admirablement,  and  I  shall 
have  vifs  regrets  now  to  'ave  opportunity  to  cnltiver  votre 
connaissance.  Mais,  I  most  laafs, — wille  pardons, — you 
ave  non  too  moch  peep's,  mais  c'est  impossible  d'abandonner 
mes  compatriots.  Allons,  mes  enfants  ;  au  cdnot" 

This  was  the  signal  for  the  French  to  quit  us ;  the  three 
men  I  had  shipped  taking  their  departure  without  ceremony. 
Mons.  Gallois  was  the  last  in  the  boat,  of  course ;  and  ha 
found  time  to  squeeze  my  hand  once  more,  and  to  renew 
jiis  "  mfs  regrets"  at  not  having  more  leisure  to  cultivate 
my  acquaintance.  The  corvette  was  already  so  near,  as  to 
21 


242 


MILES     WALLINGTORD. 


render  it  necessary  for  the  Polisson  to  be  in  motion ;  an 
other  time,  perhaps,  we  might  be  more  fortunate. 

In  this  manner  did  I  part  from  a  man  who  had  not  scru 
pled  to  seize  me  in  distress,  as  he  would  a  waif  on  a  beach. 
By  manning  me,  the  prize-crew  would  have  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  ;  and,  making  a  merit  of  necessity, 
Mons.  Gallois  was  disposed  to  be  civil  to  those  whom  he 
could  not  rob.  Odd  as  it  may  seem,  I  felt  the  influence  of 
this  manner,  to  a  degree  that  almost  reconciled  me  to  the 
act  before  committed,  although  the  last  was  just  as  profli 
gate  and  illegal  as  any  that  could  well  be  committed.  Of 
so  much  more  importance,  with  the  majority  of  men,  is 
manner  than  matter  ;  a  very  limited  few  alone  knowing  how 
to  give  to  the  last  its  just  ascendency 

The  Polisson  was  not  long  in  gathering  way,  after  her 
boat  was  hoisted  in.  She  passed,  on  the  crest  of  a  wave, 
so  near,  that  it  was  easy  to  distinguish  the  expressions  of 
her  people's  faces,  few  of  which  discovered  the  equanimity 
of  that  of  their  commander's ;  and  to  hear  the  incessant 
gabbling  that  was  kept  up  on  board  her,  day  and  night, 
from  "  morn  'till  dewy  eve."  M.  Gallois  bowed  complai- 
santly,  and  he  smiled  as  amiably  as  if  he  never  had  put  a 
hand  in  another  man's  pocket ;  but  his  glass  was  immedi 
ately  turned  towards  the  corvette,  which  now  began  to  give 
him  some  little  uneasiness.  Manning  us,  indeed,  with  that 
fellow  surging  ahead  at  the  rate  he  was,  would  have  been 
quite  out  of  the  question. 

Being  reduced  to  our  old  number  of  four,  I  saw  no  use  in 
working  ourselves  to  death,  by  filling  the  top-sail,  with  the 
certainty  the  sloop-of-war  would  make  us  round-to  again. 
The  Dawn,  therefore,  remained  stationary,  waiting  the  issue 
with  philosophical  patience. 

"  There  is  no  use,  Moses,  in  endeavouring  to  escape,"  I 
remarked ;  "  we  are  not  strong-handed  enough  to  get  sail  on 
the  ship  before  the  fellow  will  be  up  with  us." 

"Ay,  and  there  goes  his  bunting,  and  a  gun,"  answered 
the  mate.  "  The  white  English  ensign,  a  sign  the  chap  is 
under  some  admiral,  or  vice.,  or  rear  of  the  white,  while,  if 
I  mistake  not,  the  two  frigates  show  blue  flags — if  so,  'tis  a 
sign  fchey  're  not  consorts." 

The  glass  confirmed  this,  and  we  were  left  to  suppose  that 


MILES   WALLINOPORD.  343 

all  three  Englishmen  did  not  belong  to  the  same  squadron. 
At  this  moment,  the  state  of  the  game  was  as  follows  :— 
The  Dawn  was  lying-to,  with  her  fore-course  up,  mainsail 
furled,  main-top-sail  aback,  and  top-gallant  yards  on  the 
caps,  jib  and  spanker  both  set.  The  Polisson  was  flying 
away  on  the  crests  of  the  seas,  close-hauled,  evidently  dis 
posed  to  make  a  lee  behind  the  two  frigates  to  windward, 
which  we  took  for,  and  which  it  is  probable  she  knew  to  be, 
French.  The  ships  to  leeward  were  passing  each  other 
within  hail ;  the  one  to  the  eastward  tacking  immediately 
after,  and  coming  up  in  her  consort's  wake  ;  both  vessels 
carrying  everything  that  would  draw.  The  ships  to  the 
southward,  or  the  supposed  Frenchmen,  might  then  have 
been  two  leagues  from  us,  while  those  to  leeward  were  three. 
As  for  the  corvette,  her  course  seemed  to  lie  directly  be 
tween  our  masts.  On  she  came,  with  everything  beauti 
fully  trimmed,  the  water  spouting  from  her  hawse-holes,  as 
she  rose  from  a  plunge,  and  foaming  under  her  bows,  as  if 
made  of  a  cloud.  Her  distance  from  us  was  less  than  a 
mile. 

It  was  now  that  the  corvette  made  signals  to  the  ships  to 
windward.  They  were  answered,  but  in  a  way  to  show  the 
parties  did  not  understand  each  other.  She  then  tried  her 
hand  with  the  vessels  to  leeward,  and,  notwithstanding  the 
distance,  she  succeeded  better.  I  could  see  these  two  fri 
gates,  or  rather  the  one  that  led,  sending  questions  and 
answers  to  the  corvette,  although  my  best  glass  would 
hardly  enable  me  to  distinguish  their  ensigns.  I  presume 
that  the  corvette  asked  the  names  of  the  English  vessels, 
communicated  her  own,  and  let  the  fact  be  known  that  the 
ships  to  windward  were  enemies. 

A  few  minutes  later,  our  affairs,  as  they  were  connected 
with  the  sloop-of-war,  came  to  a  crisis.  This  ship  now  came 
on,  close  under  our  lee,  losing  a  little  of  her  way  in  passing, 
an  expedient  probably  thought  of  to  give  her  a  little  more 
time  to  put  her  questions,  and  to  receive  the  desired  answers. 
I  observed  also,  that  she  let  go  all  her  bow-lines,  which 
seemed  much  to  deaden  her  way,  of  which  there  still  re 
mained  sufficient,  notwithstanding,  to  carry  her  well  clear 
of  us.  The  following  dialogue  then  passed,  the  Englishman 
asking  the  questions,  of  course,  that  being  a  privilege  ex- 


244  MILES     WALLING  FOUD. 

pressly  appropriated  to  the  public  vessel  on  occasions  of  this 
sort: 

"  What  ship's  that  ?— and  whither  bound  ?" 
"  Dawn,  of  New  York,  Miles  Wallingford,  from  home  to 
Hamburg." 

"  Did  not  the  lugger  board  you  ?" 
"  Ay — ay — for  the  second  time,  in  three  days." 
"  What  is  she  called  ? — and  what  is  her  force?" 
"  Le  Polisson,  of  Brest — sixteen  light  guns,  and  about  a 
hundred  men." 

" Do  you  know  anything  of  the  ships  to  windward?" 

"  Nothing,  at  all ;  but  I  suppose  them  to  be  French." 

"  Pray,  sir,  why  do  you  sup — um — um — ook — ook — " 

The  distance  prevented  my  hearing  more.     Away  went 

the  sloop,  steadying  her  bow-lines ;  the  call  piping  belay, 

as  each  sail  was  trimmed  to  the  officer  of  the  deck's  fancy. 

In  a  few  more  minutes,  we  could  not  distinguish  even  the 

shrill  notes  of  that  instrument.     The  corvette  continued  on 

in  chase  of  the  lugger,  regardless  of  the  four  other  vessels, 

though  the  two  to  windward  now  showed  the  tri-color,  and 

fired  guns  of  defiance. 

Mons.  Gallois  soon  after  tacked,  evidently  disposed  to 
stand  for  the  frigates  of  his  country;  when  the  sloop-of-war 
immediately  went  round,  also,  heading  up  towards  these 
very  vessels,  determined  to  cut  off  the  lutrger,  even  if  it 
were  to  be  done  by  venturing  within  range  of  the  shot  of  her 
protectors.  It  was  a  bold  manoeuvre,  and  deserved  success, 
if  it  were  only  for  its  spirit  and  daring. 

I  thought,  however,  that  the  frigates  of  the  tri-color  paid 
very  little  attention  to  the  lugger.  By  altering  their  course 
a  trifle,  it  would  have  been  in  their  power  to  cover  her 
completely  from  the  attempts  of  the  corvette ;  but,  instead 
of  doing  this,  they  rather  deviated  a  little  the  other  way,  as 
if  desirous  of  approaching  the  two  ships  to  leeward,  on  the 
side  that  would  prevent  their  being  cut  off  from  the  land. 
As  neither  party  seemed  disposed  to  take  any  notice  of  us, 
we  filled  our  top-sail,  and  stood  out  of  the  circle,  under  easy 
canvass,  believing  it  bad  policy  to  have  an  appearance  of 
haste.  Haste,  however,  was  a  thing  out  of  our  power,  it 
requiring  time  for  four  men  to  make  sail. 

About  eleven,  or  half-past  eleven,  the  four  frigates  were 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  245 

distant  from  each  other  rather  more  than  a  league — the  Dawn 
being  just  then  half  a  league  from  the  two  Frenchmen,  and 
rather  more  distant  from  the  English.  Had  an  action  then 
commenced,  we  might  have  been  a  mile  out  of  the  line  of 
fire.  Curious  to  know  the  result,  I  stood  on  a  short  distance 
farther,  and  backed  my  top-sail,  to  await  the  issue.  I  was 
influenced  to  take  this  course,  from  an  expectation  that  either 
party,  after  a  conflict  with  an  equal,  would  be  less  disposed 
to  molest  a  neutral,  and  that  I  might  possibly  obtain  assist 
ance  from  the  conqueror — few  cruisers  being  found  at  that 
day,  without  having  foreigners  on  board,  that  they  would  be 
willing  to  give  to  a  vessel  in  distress.  As  for  the  account 
I  meant  to  give  to  the  party  to  whom  I  intended  to  apply,  it 
would  depend  on  circumstances.  If  the  French  remained 
on  the  spot,  Z  could  relate  the  affair  with  the  prize-crew  of 
the  Speedy ;  if  the  English,  that  of  the  Polisson.  In  neither 
case  would  an  untruth  be  told,  though  certain  collateral  facts 
might  be,  and  probably  would  have  been,  suppressed. 

The  Frenchmen  began  to  haul  down  their  light  sails,  just 
as  we  hove-to.  This  was  done  in  a  lubberly  and  irregular 
manner,  as  if  little  concert  or  order  prevailed  on  board 
them.  Marble  growled  out  his  remarks,  deeming  the  whole 
proceeding  a  bad  omen  for  the  tri-color.  It  is  certain  that 
the  French  marine,  in  1803,  was  not  a  service  to  boast  of. 
The  English  used  to  say,  that  they  seldom  got  a  French 
ship  without  working  for  her ;  and  this  was  probably  true,  as 
the  nation  is  warlike,  and  little  disposed  to  submit  without  an 
effort.  Still,  France,  at  that  day,  could  hardly  be  said  to  be 
maritime ;  and  the  revolutions  and  changes  she  had  under 
gone  were  not  likely  to  favour  the  creation  of  a  good  corps 
of  naval  officers.  Brave  men  were  far  more  plenty  than 
skilful  seamen ;  and  then  came  the  gabbling  propensity,  one 
of  the  worst  of  all  human  failings,  to  assist  in  producing  a 
disorderly  ship. 

It  was  a  pretty  sight  to  see  those  four  ships  strip  for  the 
fight;  although  the  French  canvass  did  not  come  down 
exactly  according  to  rule.  The  English,  however,  were  in 
no  hurry ;  the  two  tri-color  men  being  under  their  three 
top-sails,  spankers,  and  jibs,  with  the  top-gallant-sajls  clewed 
up,  before  John  Bull  reduced  even  a  royal.  The  latter,  it 
will  be  remembered,  were  to  leeward,  and  had  to  close  with 
21* 


246  MILES    WALLINGFORP. 

their  adversaries.  In  doing  this,  they  made  one  stretch  so 
far  in  our  direction,  in  the  hope  of  tacking  in  their  enemies 
wakes,  that  I  saw  they  would  probably  speak  us.  I  confess 
this  was  more  than  I  had  bargained  for ;  but  it  was  now  too 
late  to  run,  which  would  probably  have  led  to  our  seizure 
I  determined,  therefore,  to  await  the  result  with  dignity. 

Just  as  the  English  ships  were  coming  within  musket-shot 
of  the  Dawn,  the  French, — then  distant  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  to  the  eastward,  and  half  a  mile  south  of  us, — wore 
ship,  and  came  round  with  their  heads  to  the  westward — or, 
in  our  direction.  As  this  was  coming  nearer,  instead  of 
moving  :  from  them,  the  Englishmen  began  to  start  their 
tacks  and  sheets,  in  order  to  be  ready.  Their  six  royals 
were  all  flying  at  the  same  instant,  as  were  their  flying-jibs; 
at  the  next,  the  canvass  was  rolled  up,  and  out  of  sight. 
Then,  the  yards,  themselves,  came  down,  and  all  the  light 
sails  about  the  ships  vanished  as  a  bird  shuts  its  wings. 
After  this  the  courses  were  hauled  up  snug,  but  the  sails 
were  not  handed.  By  this  time,  the  leading  ship  of  these 
two  frigates  was  within  a  cable's-length  of  us,  just  luffing 
up  sufficiently  to  give  our  weather-quarter  the  necessary 
berth. 

"  By  George,  Miles,"  Marble  said,  as  he  stood  at  my  side, 
watching  the  movements  of  the  stranger,  "  that  second  frigate 
is  the  Speedy  !  I  know  her  by  the  billet,  and  the  distance 
of  her  bridle-port  from  her  head.  You  never  saw  such  a 
space  for  anchors,  before !  Then,  you  may  see  she  is  a 
six-and-thirty,  with  white  hammock-cloths.  Who  ever  saw 
that  twice,  at  sea  ?" 

Marble  was  right !  There  came  the  Speedy,  sure  enough  ; 
and  doubtless  the  eyes  of  Lord  Harry  Dermond  and  his 
officers  would  be  on  us,  in  a  very  few  more  minutes — the 
distance  between  the  two  frigates  being  less  than  two  cable's- 
lengths.  In  the  mean  time,  I  had  to  attend  to  the  headmost 
vessel. 

"  Can  you  tell  me  anything  of  the  two  ships  to  the  south 
ward  of  us?"  demanded  the  stranger,  through  his  trumpet, 
without  any  preamble. 

"  Nothing  but  what  you  see,  sir.  I  svppose  them  to  be 
French  ;  and  see  that  they  are  coming  after  you." 

"After  us!"  exclaimed  the  English  captain,  in  a  voice 


MILES     WALLINQFORD.  247 

loud  enough,  and  now  near  enough,  to  be  heard  without  the 
aid  of  the  trumpet.  "After  us,  indeed!  Ready  about— • 
helms  a-lee — main-top-sail  haul,  there!  Hawl,  of  all — ** 

These  orders  came  out  at  brief  intervals,  and  in  a  voice 
of  thunder — producing  prompt  obedience.  The  consequence 
was,  that  this  ship  tacked  directly  on  our  weather-beam,  and 
so  near  us  that  one  might  have  thrown  a  biscuit  aboard  her. 
But  she  went  round  beautifully,  scarce  losing  her  way  at 
ail;  and  away  she  started  again,  looking  her  enemies  directly 
in  the  face. 

"  Now's  our  time  to  fill,  Miles,  and  draw  ahead.  The 
Speedy  will  think  we  've  been  spoken,  and  all's  right.  She 
must  come  here  to  tack  into  her  consort's  wake,  and  a  blind 
man  could  not  avoid  reading  our  name — she  would  be  so 
close.  Man  the  lee-braces,  and  right  the  helm,  Neb." 

Fill  we  did ;  and  what  is  more,  we  put  our  helm  up  so 
much,  as  to  leave  quite  a  cable's-length  between  us  and  the 
Speedy,  when  that  ship  got  far  enough  ahead  to  tack,  or  at 
the  point  which  we  had  just  left.  I  believe  we  were  recog 
nised  !  Indeed,  it  is  not  easy  to  imagine  otherwise ;  as  the 
commonest  glass  would  enable  the  dullest  eyes  to  read  our 
name,  were  other  means  of  recognition  wanting.  But  a 
sailor  knows  a  ship  by  too  many  signs  to  be  easily  deceived. 

The  Speedy  was  in  stays  when  we  saw  the  proofs  of  our 
being  known.  Her  head-yards  were  not  swung,  but  there 
she  lay,  like  one  who  lingers,  uncertain  whether  to  go  or 
to  remain.  An  officer  was  in  her  gang-way,  examining 
us  with  a  glass ;  and  when  the  ship  fell  off  so  much  as  to 
bring  us  out  of  the  range  of  sight,  he  ran  off  and  re-appear 
ed  on  the  taffrail.  This  was  the  junior  lieutenant ;  I  could 
plainly  recognise  him  with  my  own  glass.  Others  soon 
joined  him,  and  among  them  was  Lord  Harry  Dermond, 
himself.  I  fancied  they  even  knew  me,  and  that  all  their 
glasses  were  levelled  directly  at  my  face.  What  a  moment 
of  intense  uncertainty  was  that !  The  ships  were  not  a  quar 
ter  of  a  mile  apart,  though  the  Dawn  was  increasing  that 
distance  fast,  and  by  paying  broad  off,  the  Speedy  would 
have  me  under  her  broadside.  Where  was  her  prize  crew? 
Not  in  the  Dawn,  or  certainly  Sennit  would  have  communi 
cated  with  his  commander;  and,  if  not  in  the  ship,  they 
must  be  in  the  ocean !  Or,  were  they  prisoners  below 


248  MILES     WALLINOFOR1>. 

and  kept  purposely  out  of  sight?  All  these  thoughts  most 
have  passed  through  the  minds  of  the  English  officers. 

I  thought  we  were  lost,  again,  but  Providence  once  more 
saved  us.  All  this  time  the  leading  English  frigate  and 
the  two  Frenchmen  were  fast  approaching  each  other.  In 
a  few  minutes,  they  must  engage,  while  the  Speedy  was  left 
further  and  further  astern  of  her  consort.  At  this  critical 
instant,  one  of  the  Frenchmen  fired  a  gun  of  defiance.  That 
report  seemed  to  arouse  the  Speedy  as  from  a  trance.  Her 
head-yards  came  furiously  round,  all  the  officers  vanished 
from  her  tafFrail,  and  down  went  both  fore  and  main-tacks, 
and  to  the  mast-head  rose  all  three  of  her  top-gallant-sails. 
Thus  additionally  impelled,  the  lively  craft  dashed  ahead, 
and  was  soon  in  her  allotted  berth,  or  half  a  cable's-length 
astern  of  the  Black  Prince,  as  I  afterwards  heard  was  the 
name  of  the  commanding  English  ship,  on  this  occasion. 
I  may  as  well  add  here,  that  the  French  Commodore's  ship 
was  named  La  Desiree,  and  her  consort  Le  Cerf.  Mons> 
Menneval  was  senior  officer  of  the  French,  and  Sir  Hotham 
Ward  of  the  English.  I  never  knew  the  name  of  the  other 
French  captain  ;  or,  if  I  did,  I  have  forgotten  it. 

My  object  had  been,  in  bearing  up,  to  get  as  far  as  possi 
ble  from  the  Speedy,  ia  order  that  she  might  not  recognise 
us,  and  especially  that  she  might  not  read  the  name  on  our 
stern.  But  this  running  off  so  much  to  leeward,  was  not 
precisely  the  berth  that  one  would  wish  to  occupy,  when  a 
sea-fight  is  going  on  directly  to  windward,  and  within  half 
gun-shot.  No  sooner  was  my  Lord  Harry  Dermond  in 
motion  again,  therefore,  than  we  hauled  the  Dawn  up  with 
her  head  to  the  westward,  with  a  view  to  get  as  soon  as 
possible  out  of  the  probable  range  of  the  fire.  It  was  true, 
the  combatants  might  yary  their  manoeuvres,  so  as  to  ren 
der  all  parts  of  the  periphery  of  a  certain  circle  around 
*hem,  anything  but  agreeable ;  but  the  chances  were  greatly 
in  favour  of  the  battle's  beginning,  with  one  party  to  wind 
ward  of  the  other. 

Our  ship  behaved  well  on  this  occasion,  getting  out  of 
the  way  with  sufficient  rapidity.  While  this  was  in  the 
course  of  execution,  1  &aef  an  opportunity  to  look  after  the 
corvette  and  the  lugger.  The  last  was  still  leading,  having 
managed,  by  means  of  short  tacks,  to  work  up  considera- 


MILES    WALLING  FORD.  249 

bly  to  windward  of  the  two  French  frigates.  Here  she  had 
made  a  last  tack  to  the  eastward,  intending  to  run  for  the 
coast.  The  sloop-of-war  was  still  in  her  wake,  and  waa 
following  on  her  heels,  at  a  rapid  rate. 


CHAPTER  XYIII. 

"  You  and  I  have 
known,  sir." 

"  At  sea,  I  think." 

"  We  have,  sir." 

**  You  have  done  well  by  water." 

"  And  you  by  land." 

ANTONY  AND  CLEOPATRA. 

THE  reader  will  understand  that  I  offer  to  his  view  a 
shifting  panorama.  As  soon  as  the  Dawn  had  got  about  a 
mile  and  a  half  from  the  English  frigates,  a  distance  that 
was  a  little  increased  by  the  advance  of  the  last  towards 
their  enemies,  we  again  backed  our  top-sails,  for  I  had  an 
ungovernable  desire  to  be  a  spectator  of  what  was  to  follow. 
This  feeling  was  common  to  all  four  of  us,  it  being  next  to 
impossible  to  get  either  Neb,  or  Diogenes,  to  pull  a  rope,  for 
gazing  at  the  frigates.  As  for  steering,  it  would  have  been 
out  of  the  question,  I  really  believe,  as  no  one  among  us 
could  keep  his  eyes  long  enough  from  the  combatants  to 
look  after  our  own  ship. 

Some  persons  may  think  it  was  foolish  not  to  make  the 
most  of  our  time  in  endeavouring  to  get  as  far  as  possible 
from  the  Speedy.  Perhaps  it  was ;  but,  two  miles  distant, 
there  was  really  less  to  apprehend  than  might  at  first  appear. 
It  was  not  probable  the  English  would  abandon  the  French 
vessels  as  long  as  they  could  stick  by  them,  or,  until  they 
were  captured ;  and  I  was  not  so  completely  ignorant  of 
my  trade  as  to  imagine  that  vessels  like  those  of  la  Grande 
Nation,  which  were  in  sight,  were  to  be  taken  without  doing 
their  adversaries  a  good  deal  of  harm.  Then,  the  prizes 
themselves  would  require  looking  after,  and  there  were 


250  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

many  othef  chances  of  our  now  going  scot-free,  while 
there  was  really  very  small  ground  of  danger.  But,  put 
ting  aside  all  these  considerations,  curiosity  and  interest 
were  so  active  in  us  all,  as  to  render  it  almost  morally  im 
possible  we  should  quit  the  place  until  the  battle  was  de 
cided.  I  am  not  absolutely  certain  the  Dawn  would  have 
moved,  had  we  been  disposed  to  make  her.  With  these 
brief  explanations,  then,  we  will  turn  our  attention  exclu 
sively  to  the  frigates. 

By  the  time  we  had  got  the  Dawn  just  where  we  wished 
her  to  be,  the  combatants  were  drawing  quite  near  to  each 
other.  The  Speedy  had  carried  sail  so  long,  as  to  be  a  lit 
tle  to  windward  of  her  consort's  wake,  though  half  a  cable's- 
length  astern  of  her.  The  French  were  in  still  closer  or- 
der,  and  they  would  soon  be  far  enough  advanced  to  bring 
the  leading  ship  on  each  side,  under  fire.  I  supposed  the 
opposing  vessels  would  pass  about  a  cable's-length  apart. 
All  four  were  under  their  topsails,  jibs,  and  spankers,  with 
the  courses  in  the  brails.  The  Black  Prince  and  the  Speedy 
had  their  top-gallant-sails  clewed  up,  while  la  Desiree  and 
le  Cerf  had  theirs  still  sheeted  home,  with  the  yards  on  the 
caps.  All  four  vessels  had  sent  down  royal-yards.  This 
was  fighting  sail,  and  everything  indicated  that  Monsieur 
Menneval  intended  to  make  a  day  of  it. 

The  first  gun  was  fired,  on  this  occasion,  from  the  Desi 
ree,  the^leading  French  ship.  It  was  directed  at  the  Black 
Prince,  and  the  shot  probably  told,  as  Sir  Hotham  Ward  im 
mediately  kept  away,  evidently  with  a  desire  to  escape  be 
ing  raked.  The  French  did  the  same  to  keep  square  with 
their  adversaries,  and  the  four  vessels  now  ran  on  parallel 
lines,  though  going  different  ways,  and  a  short  cable's-length 
asunder.  La  Desiree  followed  up  her  single  gun  with  each 
division  as  it  would  bear,  until  her  whole  broadside  was  de 
livered.  The  Black  Prince  stood  it  all  without  answering, 
though  I  could  see  that  she  was  suffering  considerably,  more 
especially  aloft.  At  length  Sir  Hotham  Ward  was  heard  in 
the  affair.  He  let  fly  his  whole  broadside,  almost  simulta 
neously  ;  and  a  spiteful,  threatening  roar  it  was.  The  smoke 
now  began  to  hide  his  ship,  though  la  Desiree,  by  moving 
towards  us,  kept  ahead  of  her  own  sulphurous  canopy. 

The  Speedy  soon  opened  on  the  French  Commodore; 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  251 

then,  by  the  roar  astern,  I  knew  Le  Cerf  was  at  work  in 
the  smoke.  All  four  ships  shivered  their  top-sails,  to  pass 
more  slowly;  and  there  was  a  minute  during  which,  as  it 
appeared  to  rne,  all  four  actually  stopped  under  the  fiery 
cloud  they  had  raised,  in  order  to  do  each  other  all  the  harm 
they  could.  The  Frenchmen,  however,  soon  issued  from 
behind  the  curtain,  and  the  cessation  in  the  firing  announced 
that  the  ships  had  parted.  I  could  not  see  rwuch  of  the 
English,  at  first,  on  account  of  the  smoke ;  but  their  antag 
onists  came  out  of  the  fray,  short  as  it  had  been,  with  torn, 
sails,  crippled  yards,  and  Le  Cerf  had  her  mizen  top-mast 
actually  hanging  over  to  leeward.  Just  as  I  got  a  view  of 
this  calamity,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  Black  Prince,  close- 
hauled,  luffing  up  athwart  the  wake  of  her  enemies,  and 
manifestly  menacing  to  get  the  wind.  The  Speedy  followed 
with  the  accuracy  of  clock-work,  having  rather  closed  with 
her  leader,  instead  of  falling  farther  behind.  Presently,  the 
Black  Prince  tacked  ;  but,  in  so  doing,  down  came  her  main- 
top-gallaut-mast,  bringing  with  it  the  yard  and  the  sail,  as 
a  matter  of  course.  This  was  a  sign  that  Mr.  Menneval 
had  not  been  firing  a  salute. 

The  French  stood  on,  after  this  first  rude  essay  with  their 
enemies,  for  several  minutes,  during  which  time  we  could 
see  their  people  actively,  but  irregularly,  employed,  in  clear 
ing  away  the  wrecks,  stoppering  rigging,  and  otherwise 
repairing  damages.  Le  Cerf,  in  particular,  was  much 
troubled  with  the  top-mast  that  was  dangling  over  her  lee- 
quarter  ;  and  her  people  made  desperate  arid  tolerably  well- 
directed  efforts  to  get  rid  of  it.  This  they  effected ;  and 
about  ten  minutes  after  the  firing  had  ceased,  the  French 
ships  put  their  helms  up,  and  went  off  to  the  northward, 
dead  before  the  wind,  as  if  inviting  their  enemies  to  come 
on  and  figTit  it  out  fairly  in  that  manner,  if  they  felt  dis 
posed  to  pursue  the  affair  any  farther. 

It  was  time  something  of  this  sort  was  done,  for  the  delay 
had  brought  all  four  of  the  vessels  so  far  to  the  westward, 
as  to  leave  them  within  a  mile  of  the  Dawn  ;  and  I  saw  the 
necessity  of  again  getting  out  of  the  way.  We  filled  and 
stood  off,  as  fast  as  possible.  It  was  time  something  of  the 
sort  was  done,  in  another  sense,  also.  When  M.  Menneval 
bore  up,  his  antagonists  were  closing  fast  on  his  weather- 


252  MILES     WALLING  FOR  0. 

quarter,  and  unless  he  meant  to  fight  to  leeward,  it  was  in* 
cumbent  on  him  to  get  out  of  the  way,  in  his  turn. 

Sir  Hotham  Ward,  however,  was  too  skilful  a  seaman  to 
neglect  the  advantage  Mons.  Menneval  had  given  him.  The 
instant  the  French  kept  away,  he  did  the  same  ;  but,  instead 
of  falling  broad  off  before  the  wind,  he  luffed  again  in  time, 
not  having  touched  a  brace,  and  crossed  the  wakes  of  hisr 
enemies,  giving  a  most  effective  broadside  into  the  cabin- 
windows  of  Le  Cerf,  To  my  surprise,  La  Desiree  held  on 
her  course,  until  the  Speedy  had  repeated  the  dose.  The 
English  then  wore  short  round,  and  were  seemingly  on  the 
point  of  going  over  the  same  thing,  when  Mons.  Menneval, 
finding  this  a  losing  game,  hauled  up,  firing  as  his  guns 
bore,  and  Le  Cerf  did  the  same,  with  her  head  the  other 
way,  destroying  everything  like  concert  in  their  movements. 
The  English  closed,  and,  in  a  minute,  all  four  of  the  ships 
were  enveloped  in  a  common  cloud  of  white  smoke.  All 
we  could  now  see,  were  the  masts,  from  the  trucks  down, 
sometimes  as  low  as  the  tops,  but  oflener  not  lower  than 
the  top-sail-yards.  The  reports  of  the  guns  were  quite  rapid 
for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  after  which  they  became  much 
less  frequent,  though  a  hundred  pieces  of  ordnance  were  stiii 
at  work  behind  that  cloudy  screen. 

Several  shot  flew  in  our  direction ;  and  two  actually 
passed  between  our  masts.  Notwithstanding,  so  keen  was 
the  interest  we  continued  to  feel,  that  the  top-sail  was  again 
backed,  and  there  we  lay,  lookers-on,  as  indifferent  to  the 
risks  we  ran,  as  if  we  had  been  ashore.  Minute  passed 
after  minute,  until  a  considerable  period  had  been  consumed  j 
yet  neither  of  the  combatants  became  fairly  visible  to  us. 
Occasionally  a  part  of  a  hull  pushed  itself  out  of  the  smoke, 
or  the  wind  blew  the  tatter  aside ;  but  at  no  time  was  the 
curtain  sufficiently  drawn,  to  enable  us  to  tell  to  which  na 
tion  the  vessel  thus  seen  belonged.  The  masts  had  disap 
peared,— not  one  remaining  above  the  smoke,  which  had 
greatly  enlarged  its  circle,  however. 

In  this  manner  passed  an  hour.  It  was  one  of  the  most 
intensely  interesting  of  my  whole  life ;  and  to  me  it  seemed 
a  day,  so  eager  was  I  to  ascertain  some  result.  I  had  been 
several  times  in  action,  as  the  reader  knows ;  but,  then,  the 
nninutes  flew :  whereas,  now,  this  combat  appeared  drawn 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  253 

out  to  an  interminable  length.  I  have  said,  an  hour  thus 
passed  before  we  could  even  guess  at  the  probable  result. 
At  the  end  of  that  time,  the  firing  entirely  ceased.  It  had 
been  growing  slacker  and  slacker  for  the  last  half-hour,  but 
it  now  stopped  altogether.  The  smoke  which  appeared  to 
be  packed  on  the  ocean,  began  to  rise  and  disperse ;  and, 
little  by  little,  the  veil  rose  from  before  that  scene  of  strife. 

The  vessel  first  seen  by  us  was  our  old  acquaintance,  the 
Speedy.  All  three  of  her  top-masts  were  gone;  the  fore, 
just  below  the  cross-trees;  and  the  two  others  near  the 
lower  caps.  Her  main-yard  had  lost  one  yard-arm,  and  hei 
lower  rigging  and  sides  were  covered  with  wreck.  She  had 
her  fore-sail,  mizen,  and  fore-stay-sail,  and  spanker  set, 
which  was  nearly  all  the  canvass  she  could  show. 

Our  eyes  had  barely  time  to  examine  the  Speedy,  ere  the 
dark  hull  of  Le  Cerf  made  its  appearance.  This  ship  had 
been  very  roughly  treated, — nothing  standing  on  board  her, 
twenty  feet  from  the  deck,  but  her  fore-mast :  and  the  head 
of  that  was  gone,  nearly  down  to  the  top.  The  sea  all  around 
her  was  covered  with  wreck ;  and  no  less  than  three  of  her 
boats  were  out,  picking  up  men  who  were  adrift  on  the  spars. 
She  lay  about  a  cable's-length  from  the  Speedy,  and  ap 
peared  to  be  desirous  of  being  still  farther  off,  as  she  had  no 
sooner  got  her  boats  up,  than  she  dropped  her  fore-sail,  and 
stood  off  dead  before  it. 

It  was  in  watching  the  movements  of  Le  Cerf,  that  ve 
first  got  a  glimpse  of  La  Desiree.  This  ship  re-appeared 
almost  in  a  line  with  her  consort ;  and,  like  her,  steering 
off  before  the  wind.  Their  common  object  seemed  to  be, 
to  get  within  close  supporting  distance  of  each  other,  and  to 
increase  the  space  between  them  and  their  enemies.  Both 
these  vessels  had  the  tri-colored  flag  flying  at  the  stumps  of 
their  masts.  As  respects  the  last,  however,  La  Desiree  was 
a  little  better  off  than  her  consort — having  her  fore-mast 
and  main-mast  standing  entire; — though  her  mizen-mast 
was  gone,  close  to  the  deck.  What  was  a  very  bad  affair 
for  her,  her  fore-yard  had  been  shot  away  in  the  slings,  tho 
two  inner  ends  lying  on  the  forecastle,  while  the  yard-arms 
were  loosely  sustained  by  the  lifts.  This  ship  kept  ofT  under 
her  main-sail  and  fore-stay-sail. 

The  Black  Prince  was  the  last  to  get  clear  of  the  smoke. 
22 


254  MILES     WALLINGFORD, 

She  had  everything  in  its  place,  from  her  top-mast  cross-treei, 
down.  The  three  top-gallant-masts  were  gone,  and  the 
wrecks  were  already  cleared ;  but  all  the  top-sail-yards  were 
on  the  caps,  and  her  rigging,  spars  and  tops,  were  alive  with 
men ;  as,  indeed,  were  those  of  the  Speedy.  This  was  the 
secret  of  the  cessation  in  the  action  ; — the  two  English  fri 
gates  having  turned  their  hands  up  to  secure  their  spars, 
while  the  Frenchmen,  by  running  off  dead  before  the  wind, 
were  in  positions  not  to  bring  a  broadside  gun  to  bear ;  and 
the  cabin-chasers  of  a  frigate  were  seldom  of  much  use  in 
that  day,  on  account  of  the  rake  of  the  stern.  It  always 
appeared  to  me,  that  the  Spaniards  built  the  best  ships  in 
this  respect, — the  English  and  Americans,  in  particular, 
seeming  never  to  calculate  the  chances  of  running  away. 
I  do  not  say  this,  in  reference  to  the  Spanish  ships, 
however,  under  any  idea  that  the  Spanish  nation  wants 
courage, — for  a  falser  notion  cannot  exist, — but,  merely  to 
state  their  superiority  in  one  point  of  naval  architecture,  at 
the  very  moment  when,  having  built  a  fine  ship,  they  did 
not  know  how  to  make  use  of  her. 

The  first  ten  minutes  after  the  four  combatants  were  clear 
of  the  smoke,  were  actively  employed  in  repairing  damages , 
on  the  part  of  the  French  confusedly,  and  I  make  no  doubt 
clamorously ;  on  that  of  the  English  with  great  readiness 
and  a  perfect  understanding  of  their  business.  Notwith 
standing  this  was  the  general  character  of  the  exertions  of 
the  respective  parties,  there  were  exceptions  to  the  rule.  On 
board  le  Cerf,  for  instance,  I  observed  a  gang  of  men  at 
work  clearing  the  ship  from  the  wreck  of  the  main-mast, 
who  proceeded  with  a  degree  of  coolness,  vigour  and  me 
thod,  which  showed  what  materials  were  thrown  away  in 
that  service,  for  want  of  a  good  system  ;  and  chiefly,  as  I 
shall  always  think,  because  the  officers  did  not  understand 
the  immense  importance  of  preserving  silence  on  board  a 
crowded  vessel.  The  native  taciturnity  of  the  English,  in 
creased  by  the  social  discipline  of  that  well-ordered — per 
haps  over-ordered — nation,  has  won  them  as  many  battles 
on  the  ocean,  as  the  native  loquacity  of  their  enemies — • 
increased  possibly  during  the  reign  of  les  citoyens  by  politi 
cal  exaggeration — has  tost.  It  is  lucky  for  us,  that  the 
American  character  inclines  to  silence  and  thoughtfulness, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  255 

in  grave  emergencies :  we  are  noisy,  garrulous,  and  sput 
tering,  only  in  our  politics. 

Perceiving  that  the  storm  was  likely  to  pass  to  leeward, 
we  remained  stationary  a  little  time,  to  watch  the  closing 
scene.  I  was  surprised  at  the  manner  in  which  the  Black 
Prince  held  aloof  after  the  Speedy  had  bore  up  and  was  run- 
ning  down  in  the  track  of  her  enemies,  sheering  first  upon 
one  quarter  of  le  Cerf,  and  then  on  the  other,  pouring  in  a 
close  and  evidently  a  destructive  fire.  At  length  Sir  Ho- 
tham  Ward  bore  up,  and  went  off  before  the  wind  also, 
moving  three  feet  to  the  Speedy's  two,  in  consequence  of 
being  able  to  carry  all  three  of  her  top-sails.  It  would 
seem  that  Monsieur  Menneval  was  not  satisfied  with  the 
manner  in  which  his  consort  was  treated  ;  for,  instead  of 
waiting  to  be  assailed  in  the  same  way,  he  put  his  helm  to- 
port  and  came  by  the  wind,  delivering  a  broadside  as  his 
ship  luffed,  that  soon  explained  the  reason  of  the  Black 
Prince's  delay.  That  ship  had  been  getting  up  preventers 
to  save  her  masts,  and  something  important  must  have  been 
cut  by  this  discharge  from  la  Desiree,  as  her  main-mast 
went  immediately  after  she  received  the  fire,  dragging  down 
with  it  her  mizen-top-mast.  The  English  ship  showed  stuff, 
however,  under  circumstances  so  critical.  Everything  on 
the  fore-mast  still  drew,  and  she  continued  on,  heading  di 
rect  for  her  enemy,  nor  did  she  attempt  to  luff  until  within 
two  hundred  yards  of  her,  when  she  came  by  the  wind 
slowly  and  heavily ;  a  manoeuvre  that  was  materially  aided 
by  the  fore-top-mast's  following  the  spars  aft,  just  as  her 
helm  must  have  been  put  to-port.  Le  Cerf  finding  the 
battle  was  again  to  be  stationary,  also  came  by  the  wind, 
and  then  all  four  of  the  ships  went  at  it  again,  as  ardently 
as  if  the  affair  had  just  commenced. 

It  would  not  be  easy  to  relate  all  the  incidents  of  this  se 
cond  combat.  For  two  hours  the  four  ships  lay  within  a 
cable's-length  of  each  other,  keeping  up  as  animated  a  con 
test  as  circumstances  would  allow.  I  was  particularly 
struck  with  the  noble  behaviour  of  the  Black  Prince,  which 
ship  was  compelled  to  fire  through  the  wreck  of  her  masts ; 
notwithstanding  which,  she  manifestly  got  the  best  of  the 
cannonading,  as  against  her  particular  antagonist,  la  Desi 
ree.  I  cannof  say  that  either  of  the  four  vessels  failed  of 


256 


MILES     WALLINGFORD. 


her  duty,  though,  I  think,  as  a  whole,  Sir  Hotham  Ward 
showed  the  most  game ;  probably  from  the  fact  that  he  had 
the  most  need  of  it.  Encumbered  by  so  much  wreck,  of 
which  it  was  impossible  to  get  rid,  while  exposed  to  so  heavy 
a  fire,  the  Black  Prince,  however,  was  finally  dropped  by 
her  adversary,  la  Desiree  drawing  gradually  ahead,  until 
neither  of  those  two  vessels  could  bring  a  gun  to  bear.  Tho 
English  now  turned  to,  to  clear  away  wreck  again,  while 
the  Frenchman  bent  a  new  fore-course,  and  a  new  spanker ; 
those  that  had  been  standing  being  reduced  to  rags. 

The  Speedy  and  Cerf  had  not  been  idle  the  while.  The 
French  vessel  played  her  part  manfully,  nor  was  there  much 
to  choose  between  them,  when  the  latter  wore  round,  and 
followed  her  consort,  exchanging  a  fire  with  the  Black 
Prince  in  passing  her. 

Had  not  the  real  superiority  of  the  English  over  the 
French  on  the  ocean,  now  come  in  play,  this  combat  would 
have  been  a  drawn  battle,  though  accompanied  by  the  usual 
characteristics  of  such  struggles,  at  the  close  of  the  last 
and  the  beginning  of  the  present  century ;  or  the  latter 
considering  an  escape  a  sort  of  victory.  But  both  parties 
were  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  repairing  damages,  and  this 
was  the  work  to  prove  true  nautical  skill.  Any  man  may 
load  and  fire  a  gun,  but  it  needs  a  trained  seaman  to  meet 
the  professional  emergencies  of  warfare.  A  clodhopper 
might  knock  a  mast  out  of  a  vessel,  but  a  sailor  must  re 
place  it.  From  the  beginning  of  this  affair,  all  of  us  in  the 
Dawn  had  been  struck  with  the  order,  regularity  and  des 
patch  with  which  the  Black  Prince  and  Speedy  had  made 
and  shortened  sail,  and  the  quickness  and  resource  with 
which  they  had  done  all  that  seamanship  required  in  secu 
ring  wounded  spars  and  torn  sails  ;  while,  there  had  been 
no  end  to  Marble's  sneers  and  comments  on  the  bungling 
confusion  of  the  French.  This  difference  now  became 
doubly  apparent,  when  there  was  no  smoke  nor  any  can 
nonading  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  respective  crews.  In 
half  an  hour  the  Black  Prince  was  clear  of  the  wreck,  and 
she  had  bent  several  new  sails,  while  the  difficulties  on 
board  her  antagonist  appeared  just  then  to  be  at  their 
height.  This  same  difference  existed  between  the  two  other 
vessels,  though,  on  the  whole,  le  Cerf  got  out  of  her  distress 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  257 

sooner  and  more  skilfully  than  her  consort.  As  to  the 
Speedy,  I  must  do  my  old  acquaintance,  Lord  Harry  Der« 
mond,  the  justice  to  say,  that  he  both  fought  his  ship,  and 
repaired  his  damages, in  a  highly seamanlike  manner.  I'll 
answer  for  it,  the  Hon.  Lieut.  Powlett  had  not  much  to  do 
with  either.  He  had  much  better  been  in  his  mother's 
drawing-room,,  that  day,  and  permitted  a  more  fitting  man 
to  fill  his  place.  Sennit  was  then  Qn  his  way  to  Barbadoes, 
however,  nor  do  I  believe  your  master  of  a  press-gang  ever 
does  much  before  an  enemy. 

Fully  two  hours  passed,  during  which  the  combatants 
were  busy  in  repairing  damages.  At  the  end  of  this  time, 
La  Desiree  and  le  Cerf  had  drawn  more  than  a  mile  to 
the  eastward  of  the  English  ships  ;  the  latter  following  them, 
as  soon  as  clear  of  their  wrecks,  but  under  diminished  sail. 
The  Black  Prince  had  actually  got  up  three  spare  top-masts, 
in  the  interval,  and  was  now  ready  to  set  their  sails.  The 
Speedy  was  less  active,  or  less  skilful,  though  she,  too,  had 
not  been  idle.  Then  the  English  drove  fast  towards  their 
enemies.  Mons.  Menneval  bore  up  in  good  season,  this 
time,  edging  away,  and  opening  the  fire  of  both  ships  on 
his  adversaries,  when  they  were  about  half  a  mile  distant. 
The  effect  of  this  early  movement  was  soon  apparent,  it  be 
ing  a  great  mistake  to  reserve  a  ship's  fire,  as  against  an 
enemy  that  approaches  nearly  bows  on.  M'Donough  owed 
his  victory  in  Plattsburg  Bay,  to  having  improved  so  favour 
able  a  chance ;  and  the  French  were  beaten  at  the  Nile, 
because  they  did  not ;  though  Nelson  probably  would  have 
overcome  them,  under  any  circumstances ;  the  energy  im 
parted  by  one  of  his  character,  more  than  counterbalancing 
any  little  advantage  in  tactics. 

On  the  present  occasion,  we  could  see  the  fire  of  the 
French  taking  effect  on  the  Black  Prince's  spars,  as  soon  as 
they  opened  her  batteries.  As  the  mattter  was  subsequently 
explained  in  the  official  account,  that  ship's  lower  masts 
were  badly  wounded  before  she  sent  up  the  new  top-masts , 
and,  recefving  some  further  injuries,  stick  began  to  come 
down  after  stick,  until  nothing  was  left  of  all  her  hamper, 
but  three  stumps  of  lower  masts,  the  highest  less  than  twenty 
feet  above  the  deck.  Sir  Hotham  Ward  was  now  in  the 
worst  plight  he  had  been  in  that  day,  his  ship  being  unable 
22* 


258  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

to  advance  a  foot,  her  drift  excepted,  until  everything  was 
cut  away.  To  the  landsman  it  may  appear  a  small  job  to 
cut  ropes  with  axes,  and  thus  liberate  a  vessel  from  the  en 
cumbrance  and  danger  of  falling  spars ;  but  the  seaman 
knows  it  is  often  a  most  delicate  and  laborious  piece  of  duty. 
The  ocean  is  never  quiet ;  and  a  vessel  that  is  not  steadied 
by  the  pressure  of  her  sails,  frequently  rolls  in  a  way  to 
render  it  no  slight  task  even  to  maintain  one's  footing  on 
her  decks ;  frigates  and  ships  of  the  line  frequently  proving 
more  inconvenient  than  smaller  vessels,  under  such  circum 
stances. 

There  was  one  fortunate  occurrence  to  the  British,  con 
nected  with  this  disaster.  The  French  had  been  so  thorough 
ly  bent  on  dismasting  the  Black  Prince,  that  they  paid  Jittlo 
attention  to  the  Speedy;  that  ship  actually  passing  a  short 
distance  to  windward  of  her  consort,  unnoticed  and  un 
harmed.  As  the  French  were  going  to  leeward  the  whole 
time,  it  enabled  the  Speedy  to  get  out  of  the  range  of  their 
guns,  before  she  bore  up.  As  soon  as  this  was  effected,  she 
followed  her  enemies,  under  twice  as  much  canvass  as  they 
carried  themselves.  Of  course,  in  less  than  half  an  hour, 
she  was  enabled  to  close  with  le  Cerf,  coming  up  on  one  of 
her  quarters,  and  opening  a  heavy  fire  close  aboard  her. 
All  this  time,  the  Black  Prince  remained  like  a  log  upon 
the  water,  trying  to  get  clear  of  her  wreck,  the  combat 
driving  slowly  away  from  her  to  leeward.  Her  men  worked 
like  ants,  and  we  actually  heard  the  cheers  they  raised,  as 
the  hull  of  their  ship  forged  itself  clear  of  the  maze  of  masts, 
yards,  sails,  and  rigging,  in  which  it  had  been  so  long  en 
veloped.  This  was  no  sooner  done,  than  she  let  fall  a  sail 
from  her  sprit-sail-yard,  one  bent  for  the  occasion,  and  a 
top-gallant-sail  was  set  to  a  light  spar  that  had  been  rigged 
against  the  stump  of  the  main-mast ;  the  stick  that  rose 
highest  from  her  deck. 

'As  the  battle,  like  a  gust  in  the  heavens,  was  passing 
to  leeward,  Marble  and  I  determined  to  fill,  and  follow  the 
combatants  down,  the  course  being  precisely  that  we  wished 
to  steer.  With  a  view,  however,  to  keep  out  of  the  range 
of  shot,  we  hauled  the  Dawn  up  to  the  eastward,  first,  in 
tending  to  keep  her  away  in  the  wake  of  the  Black  Prince. 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  25C 

Of  course  we  were  in  no  hurry,  it  now  being  in  our  power 
to  go  six  feet  to  that  ship's  one. 

In  executing  our  purpose,  we  passed  close  to  the  wreck 
of  the  English  frigate's  spars.  There  they  were  rolling 
about  on  the  troubled  water,  and  we  actually  saw  the  body 
of  a  man  caught  in  some  of  the  rigging,  as  the  sea  occa 
sionally  tossed  it  to  the  surface.  The  poor  fellow  had  prob 
ably  gone  over  with  the  mast  and  been  drowned  before 
assistance  could  be  rendered.  With  an  enemy  escaping, 
man-of-war's-men  are  not  very  particular  about  picking  up 
the  bodies  of  their  dead. 

I  did  not  venture  to  run  the  Dawn  directly  down  in  the 
Englishman's  wake,  but  we  kept  her  off  and  on,  rather,  tak 
ing  good  care  not  to  go  within  a  mile  of  her.  All  this  time 
the  Speedy  was  playing  upon  the  Cerf's  quarter.  The  lat 
ter  ship  becoming  too  crippled  to  luff,  while  Mons.  Men- 
neval  was  travelling  off  to  leeward,  unmolested,  having 
obtained  an  advantage  in  the  way  of  speed,  that  he  was 
unwilling  to  put  in  any  jeopardy,  by  coming  again  under 
fire.  This  officer  did  not  want  for  spirit,  but  the  French 
had  got  to  be  so  accustomed  to  defeat,  in  their  naval  en 
counters  with  the  English,  that,  like  several  other  nations 
on  the  land,  they  had  begun  to  look  upon  victory  as  hope 
less.  The  Cerf  was  very  nobly  fought.  Notwithstanding 
the  disadvantages  under  which  she  laboured,  that  ship  held 
out  until  the  Black  Prince  had  actually  given  her  a  close 
broadside  on  her  larboard  quarter ;  the  Speedy  being  kept 
the  whole  time  on  her  starboard,  with  great  skill,  pouring 
in  a  nearly  unresisted  fire.  The  Cerf  struck  only  as  she 
found  that  the  battle  was  to  be  two  to  one,  and  under  so 
many  other  disadvantages,  in  the  bargain. 

This  closed  the  affair,  so  far  as  the  fighting  was  concerned. 
La  Desiree  standing  on  unmolested,  though,  as  I  afterwards 
learned,  she  was  picked  up  next  morning  by  a  homeward- 
bound  English  two-decker,  hauling  down  her  colours  with 
out  any  resistance. 

The  reader  may  feel  some  curiosity  to  know  how  we  felt 
on  board  the  Dawn,  during  the  five  hours  that  elapsed  be 
tween  the  firing  of  the  first  and  the  last  guns,  on  this  occa 
sion  ;  what  was  said  among  us,  and  how  we  proceeded  as 
aoon  as  the  victory  was  decided.  The  last  he  will  learn,  in 


260  MILES     WALLINGFORD, 

the  regular  course  of  the  narrative ;  as  for  the  first,  it  i* 
soon  told.  It  was  not  easy  to  find  four  men  who  were 
more  impartial,  as  between  the  combatants,  than  those  in 
the  Dawn.  My  early  preferences  had  certainly  been  in 
favour  of  England,  as  was  very  generally  the  case  among 
all  the  better-educated  Americans  of  my  period,  at  least  as 
low  down  as  the  war  of  181 2.  But  going  beyond  the  scene  of 
internal  political  discussion,  and  substituting  observation  for 
the  eulogies  and  sophisms  of  the  newspapers,  had  wrought 
divers  changes  in  my  opinion.  England  was  then  no  more  to 
me  than  any  other  nation  ;  I  was  not  of  the  French  school  of 
politics,  however,  and  kept  myself  as  much  aloof  from  one 
of  these  foreign  schools  of  political  logicians  as  from  the 
other.  I  may  be  said  to  have  been  born  a  Federalist ;  but 
this  change  of  sentiment  had  prevented  my  ever  giving  a 
Federal  vote  since  attaining  my  majority. 

Marble  had  entertained  a  strong  dislike  for  England,  ever 
since  the  Revolution.  But,  at  the  same  time,  he  had  inhe 
rited  the  vulgar  contempt  of  his  class  for  Frenchmen  ;  and 
I  must  own  that  he  had  a  fierce  pleasure  in  seeing  the  com- 
batants  destroy  each  other.  Had  we  been  near  enough  to 
witness  the  personal  suffering  inflicted  by  the  terrible  wounds 
of  a  naval  combat,  I  make  no  doubt  his  feelings  would  have 
been  different;  but,  as  things  were,  he  only  saw  French  and 
English  ships  tearing  each  other  to  pieces.  During  the  height 
of  the  affair,  he  observed  to  me : — "  If  this  Monsieur  Gal- 
lois,  and  his  bloody  lugger,  could  only  be  brought  into  the 
scrape,  Miles,  my  mind  would  be  contented.  I  should  glory 
in  seeing  the  corvette  and  the  Polisson  scratching  out  each 
other's  eyes,  like  two  fish-women,  whose  dictionaries  have 
given  out." 

Neb  and  Diogenes  regarded  the  whole  thing  very  much 
as  I  suppose  the  Caesars  used  to  look  upon  the  arena,  when 
the  gladiators  were  the  most  bbod-thirsty.  The  negroes 
would  laugh,  cry  "golly!"  or  shake  their  heads  with  delight, 
when  half-a-dozen  guns  went  off  together;  receiving  the 
reports  as  a  sort  of  evidence  that  crashing  work  was  going 
on,  on  board  the  vessels.  But  I  overheard  a  dialogue 
between  these  two  children  of  Africa,  that  may  best  explain 
heir  feelings: 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  261 

"  Which  you  t'ink  whip,  Neb?"  Diogenes  asked,  with  a 
grin  that  showed  every  ivory  tooth  in  his  head. 

"  I  t'ink  'em  bot'  get  it  smartly,"  answered  my  fellow. 
**  You  see  how  a  Speedy  make  quick  work,  eh  ?" 

"  I  wish  'em  go  a  leetle  nearer,  Neb. — Some  shot  nebber 
hit,  at  all." 

"  Dat  always  so,  cook,  in  battle.  Dere !  dat  a  smasher 
for  John  Bull !" 

"  He  won't  want  to  press  more  men  just  now.  Eh ! 
Neb?" 

"  Now  you  see  Johnny  Crepaud  catch  it !  Woss !  Dat 
cracks  'e  cabin  winders !" 

"  What  dat  to  us,  Neb  ?  'Spose  he  eat  one  anoder,  don't 
hurt  us !" 

Here  the  two  spectators  broke  out  into  a  loud  fit  of 
laughter,  clapping  their  hands,  and  swinging  their  bodies 
about,  as  if  the  whole  thing  were  capital  fun.  Diogenes 
was  so  much  delighted  when  all  the  Black  Prince's  spars 
went,  that  he  actually  began  to  dance ;  Neb  regarding  his 
antics  with  a  sort  of  good-natured  sympathy.  There  is  no 
question  that  man,  at  the  bottom,  has  a  good  deal  of  the 
wild  beast  in  him,  and  that  he  can  be  brought  to  look  upon 
any  spectacle,  however  fierce  and  sanguinary,  as  a  source 
of  interest  and  entertainment.  If  a  criminal  is  to  be  exe 
cuted,  we  always  find  thousands,  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages, 
assembling  to  witness  a  fellow-creature's  agony;  and,  though 
these  curious  personages  often  have  sentimental  qualms 
during  the  revolting  spectacle  itself,  they  never  turn  away 
their  eyes,  until  satisfied  with  all  that  there  is  to  be  seen  of 
the  terrible,  or  the  revolting. 

A  word  must  be  added  concerning  an  acquaintance- 
Monsieur  Gallois.  Just  as  the  Black  Prince's  masts  went, 
I  saw  him,  a  long  way  to  windward,  stretching  in  towards 
the  coast,  and  carrying  sail  as  hard  as  his  lugger  would 
bear.  The  corvette  was  still  close  at  his  heels;  and  Marble 
soon  after  drew  my  attention  towards  him,  to  observe  the 
smoke  that  was  rising  above  the  sloop-of-war.  The  distance 
was  so  great,  and  the  guns  so  light,  that  we  heard  no 
^reports ;  but  the  smoke  continued  to  rise  until  both  vessels 
went  out  of  sight,  in  the  south-western  boa  rd.  I  subsequently 
learned  that  the  lugger  escaped,  after  all.  She  was  very 


262  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

hard  pressed,  and  would  have  been  captured,  had  not  the 
English  ship  carried  away  her  main-top-gallant-mast,  in  her 
eagerness  to  get  alongside.  To  that  accident,  alone,  did 
M.  Gallois  owe  his  escape.  I  trust  he  and  M.  le  Gros  had 
a  happy  meeting. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

**  The  sea  wax'd  calm,  and  we  discovered 
Two  ships  from  far  making  amain  to  us, 
Of  Corinth  that,  of  Epidaurus  this : 
But  on  they  came, — O,  let  me  say  no  more ! 
Gather  the  sequel  by  that  went  before." 

COMEDY  OF  ERROR. 

IT  was  high  time  for  the  Dawn  to  be  doing.  Of  all  the 
ships  to  leeward,  the  Speedy,  the  vessel  we  had  most  rea 
son  to  apprehend,  was  in  the  best  condition  to  do  us  harm. 
It  was  true  that,  just  then,  we  might  outsail  her,  but  a  man- 
of-war's  crew  would  soon  restore  the  balance  of  power,  if 
it  did  not  make  it  preponderate  against  us.  I  called  to  my 
mate,  and  we  went  aft  to  consult. 

"  It  will  not  do  for  us  to  remain  any  longer  here,  Moses," 
I  began ;  "  the  English  are  masters  of  the  day,  and  the 
Speedy's  officers  having  recognised  us,  beyond  all  doubt, 
she  will  be  on  our  heels  the  moment  she  can." 

"  I  rather  think,  Miles,  her  travelling,  for  some  hours  to 
come,  is  over.  There  she  is,  however,  and  she  has  our 
crew  on  board  her,  and  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to  get  some 
of  them,  if  possible.  If  a  body  had  a  boat,  now,  I  might 
go  down  with  a  flag  of  truce,  and  see  what  tarms  could  be 
made." 

I  laughed  at  this  conceit,  telling  Marble  he  would  be  wise 
to  remain  where  he  was.  I  would  give  the  Speedy  four 
hours  to  get  herself  in  tolerabb  sailing  trim  again,  suppos 
ing  her  bent  on  pursuit.  If  in  no  immediate  hurry,  it 
might  occupy  her  four-and-twenty  hours.  ^ 

*'  I  think  she  may  be  disposed  to  follow  the  other  French 
frigate,  which  is  clearly  making  her  way  towards  Brest,"  1 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  263 

added,  "  in  which  case  we  have  nothing  to  fear.  By  George! 
there  goes  a  gun,  and  here  comes  a  shot  in  our  direction — 
you  can  see  it,  Moses,  skipping  along  the  water,  almost  in 
a  line  between  us  and  the  frigate. — Ay,  here  it  comes !" 

All  this  was  literally  true.  The  Speedy  lay  with  her 
bows  towards  us,  and  she  had  suddenly  fired  the  shot  to 
which  I  alluded,  and  which  now  came  bounding  from  wave 
to  wave,  until  it  struck  precisely  in  a  line  with  the  ship, 
about  a  hundred  yards  distant. 

"  Halloo !"  cried  Marble,  who  had  levelled  his  glass  to 
wards  the  frigates. — "  There 's  the  deuce  to  pay  down  there, 
Miles — one  boat  pulling  this-a-way,  for  life  or  death,  and 
another  a'ter  it.  The  shot  was  intended  for  the  leading 
boat,  and  not  for  us." 

This  brought  my  glass  down,  too.  Sure  enough,  there 
was  a  small  boat  pulling  straight  for  us,  and  of  course  di 
rectly  to  windward  of  the  frigate ;  the  men  in  it  exerting 
every  nerve.  There  were  seven  seamen  in  this  boat ;  six 
at  the  oars,  and  one  steering.  The  truth  flashed  on  me  in 
a  moment.  These  were  some  of  our  own  people,  headed 
by  the  second-mate,  who  had  availed  themselves  of  the  cir 
cumstance  of  one  of  the  Speedy's  boats  being  in  the  water, 
without  a  crew,  to  run  away  with  it  in  the  confusion  of  the 
moment.  The  Black  Prince  had  taken  possession  of  the 
prize,  as  we  had  previously  noted,  and  that  with  a  single 
boat,  and  the  cutter  in  pursuit  appeared  to  me  to  be  coming 
from  the  Frenchman.  I  immediately  acquainted  Marble 
with  my  views  of  the  matter,  and  he  seized  on  the  idea 
eagerly,  as  one  probable  and  natural. 

"  Them's  our  fellows,  Miles !"  he  exclaimed ;  "  we  must 
fill,  and  meet  'em  half-way !" 

It  was  certainly  in  our  power  to  lessen  the  distance  the 
fugitives  had  to  run,  by  standing  down  to  meet  the  leading 
boat.  This  could  not  be  done,  however,  without  going 
within  reach  of  the  English  gu  ns  ;  the  late  experiment  show 
ing  unanswerably,  that  we  lay  just  without  the  drop  of 
their  shot,  as  it  was.  I  never  saw  men  in  a  greater  excite 
ment,  than  that  which  now  came  over  us  all  in  the  Dawn. 
Fill,  we  did  immediately ;  that,  at  least,  could  do  no  harm ; 
whereas  it  might  do  much  good.  I  never  supposed  for  a 
moment  the  English  were  sending  boats  after  us,  since,  with 


$64  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

the  wind  that  was  blowing,  it  would  have  been  easy  for  the 
Dawn  to  leave  them  miles  behind  her,  in  the  first  hour. 
Each  instant  rendered  my  first  conjecture  the  most  likely 
to  be  true.  There  could  be  no  mistaking  the  exertions  of 
the  crews  of  the  two  boats ;  the  pursuers  seemingly  doing 
their  best,  as  well  as  the  pursued.  The  frigate  could  no 
longer  fire,  however,  the  boats  being  already  in  a  line,  and 
there  being  equal  danger  to  both  from  her  shot. 

The  reader  will  understand  that  large  ships  seldom  en 
gage,  when  the  ocean  will  permit  it,  without  dropping  one 
or  more  of  their  boats  into  the  water ;  and  that  warm  actions 
at  sea  rarely  occur,  without  most  of  the  boats  being,  more 
or  less,  injured.  It  often  happens  that  a  frigate  can  muster 
only  one  or  two  boats  that  will  swim,  after  a  combat ;  and 
frequently  only  the  one  she  had  taken  the  precaution  to 
lower  into  the  water,  previously  to  engaging.  It  was  owing 
to  some  such  circumstance  that  only  one  boat  followed  the 
fugitives  in  the  present  instance.  The  race  must  necessarily 
be  short ;  and  it  would  have  been  useless  to  send  a  second 
boat  in  pursuit,  could  one  be  found,  after  the  first  two  or 
three  all-important  minutes  were  lost. 

The  Dawn  showed  her  ensign,  as  a  sign  we  saw  our  poor 
fellows  struggling  to  regain  us,  and  then  we  filled  our  main 
top-sail,  squaring  away  and  standing  down  directly  for  the 
fugitives.  Heavens !  how  that  main-yard  went  round, 
though  there  were  but  three  men  at  the  braces.  Each  of  us 
hauled  and  worked  like  a  giant.  There  was  every  induce 
ment  of  feeling,  interest  and  security  to  do  so.  With  our 
present  force,  the  ship  could  scarcely  be  said  to  be  safe ; 
whereas,  the  seven  additional  hands,  and  they  our  own  peo 
ple,  who  were  straining  every  nerve  to  join  us,  would  at 
once  enable  us  to  carry  the  ship  direct  to  Hamburg. 

Our  old  craft  behaved  beautifully.  Neb  was  at  the  wheel, 
the  cook  on  the  forecastle,  while  Marble  and  I  got  ropes 
cleared  away  to  throw  to  the  runaways,  as  soon  as  they 
should  be  near  enough  to  receive  them.  Down  we  drove 
towards  the  boat,  and  it  was  time  we  did,  for  the  cutter  in 
pursuit,  which  pulled  ten  oars,  and  was  full  manned,  was 
gaining  fast  on  the  fugitives.  As  we  afterwards  learned,  in 
the  eagerness  of  starting,  our  men  had  shipped  the  crest  of 
a  sea,  and  they  were  now  labouring  under  the  great  disad* 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  265 

vantage  of  carrying  more  than  a  barrel  of  water,  which  was 
washing  about  in  the  bottom  of  their  cutter,  rendering  her 
both  heavy  and  unsteady. 

So  intense  was  the  interest  we  all  felt  in  the  result  of  this 
struggle,  that  our  feelings  during  the  battle  could  not  be 
compared  to  it.  I  could  see  Marble  move  his  body,  as  a 
sitter  in  a  boat  is  apt  to  do,  at  each  jerk  of  the  oars,  under 
the  notion  it  helps  the  party  along.  Diogenes  actually  called 
out,  and  this  a  dozen  times  at  least,  to  encourage  the  men 
to  pull  for  their  lives,  though  they  were  not  yet  within  a 
«iile  of  us.  The  constant  rising  and  setting  of  the  boats  pre 
vented  my  making  very  minute  observations  with  the  glass ; 
but  I  distinguished  the  face  of  my  second-mate,  who  was 
sitting  aft,  and  I  could  see  he  was  steering  with  one  hand 
and  bailing  with  the  other.  We  now  waved  our  hats,  in 
hopes  of  being  seen,  but  got  no  answering  signal,  the  dis 
tance  being  still  too  great. 

At  that  moment  I  cared  nothing  for  the  guns  of  the  Eng- 
ish  ship,  though  we  were  running  directly  for  them.  The 
boat  —  the  boat,  was  our  object !  For  that  we  steered  as 
unerringly  as  the  motion  of  the  rolling  water  would  allow. 
It  blew  a  good  working  breeze ;  and,  what  was  of  the  last 
importance  to  us,  it  blew  steadily.  I  fancied  the  ship  did 
not  move,  notwithstanding,  though  the  rate  at  which  we 
drew  nearer  to  the  boat  ought  to  have  told  us  better.  But, 
anxiety  had  taken  the  place  of  reason,  and  we  were  all  dis 
posed  to  see  things  as  we  felt,  rather  than  as  we  truly  found 
them. 

There  was  abundant  reason  for  uneasiness ;  the  cutter 
astern  certainly  going  through  the  water  four  feet,  to  tha 
other's  three.  Manned  with  her  regular  crew,  with  every 
thing  in  order,  and  with  men  accustomed  to  pull  together, 
the  largest  boat,  and  rowing  ten  oars  to  the  six  of  my  mate's, 
I  make  no  doubt  that  the  cutter  of  the  Black  Prince  would 
have  beaten  materially  in  an  ordinary  race,  more  especially 
in  the  rough  water  over  which  this  contest  occurred.  But, 
nearly  a  tenth  full  of  water,  the  boat  of  the  fugitives  had  a 
greatly  lessened  chance  of  escape. 

Of  course,  we  then  knew  no  more  than  we  could  see ; 
and  we  were  not  slow  to  perceive  how  fast  the  pursuers 
were  gaining  on  the  pursued.  I  really  began  to  tremble  for 
23 


266  MILES    WALLINGFORB. 

the  result ;  and  this  so  much  the  more,  as  the  larger  cutter 
was  near  enough,  by  this  time,  to  permit  me  to  discover,  by 
means  of  the  glass,  the  ends  of  several  muskets,  rising  out 
of  her  stern-sheets.  Could  she  get  near  enough  for  her 
officers  to  use  these  weapons,  the  chance  of  our  people 
was  gone, — since  it  was  not  to  be  even  hoped  they  had  any 
arms. 

The  end  approached.  The  Dawn  had  got  good  way  on 
her — Marble  and  Diogenes  having  dragged  down  the  main 
top-gallant  sheets,  and  hoisted  the  sail.  The  water  foamed 
under  our  bows ;  and  the  boat  was  soon  so  near,  it  became 
indispensable  to  haul  our  wind.  This  we  did  with  the  ship's 
head  to  the  westward,  without  touching  a  brace,  though  we 
luffed  sufficiently  to  throw  the  wind  out  of  all  the  square 
sails.  The  last  was  done  to  deaden  the  vessel's  way,  in 
order  that  the  fugitives  might  reach  her. 

The  struggle  became  frightful  for  its  intenseness !  Our 
men  were  so  near,  we  could  recognise  them  without  the  aid 
of  a  glass ;  with  it,  I  could  read  the  glowing  anxiety  that 
was  in  my  second-mate's  countenance.  Kach  instant, 
the  pursuers  closed,  until  they  were  actually  much  nearer 
to  the  pursued  than  the  latter  were  to  the  Dawn.  For  the 
first  time,  now,  I  suspected  the  truth,  by  the  heavy  move 
ment  of  the  flying  cutter,  and  the  water  that  the  second- 
mate  was  constantly  bailing  out  of  her,  using  his  hat.  Mar 
ble  brought  up  the  muskets  left  by  the  privateersmen,  and 
began  to  renew  their  primings.  Pie  wished  to  fire  at  once 
on  the  pursuing  boat — she  being  within  range  of  a  bullet  ; 
but  this  I  knew  would  not  be  legal.  I  promised  to  use  them 
should  the  English  attempt  to  board  the  ship,  but  did  not 
dare  to  anticipate  that  movement. 

Nearer  and  nearer  came  the  boats,  the  chasing  gaining 
always  on  the  chased  ;  arid  now,  the  Black  Prince  and  the 
Speedy  each  threw  a  shot  quite  over  us.  We  were  about  a 
mile  from  the  three  frigates — rather  increasing  than  lessen 
ing  that  distance,  however,  as  they  drifted  to  leeward,  while 
we  were  slightly  luffing,  with  our  yards  a  little  braced  up, 
the  leeches  lifting.  Neb  steered  the  ship,  as  one  would  have 
guided  a  pilot-boat.  He  had  an  eye  for  the  boats,  as  well 
as  for  the  sails  —  knew  all  that  was  wanted,  and  all  that 
Wps  to  be  done.  I  never  saw  him  touch  a  wheel  with  so 


MILES   WALLINGFORD.  267 

delicate  a  hand,  or  one  that  better  did  its  duty.  The  Dawn'a 
way  was  so  much  deadened  as  to  give  the  fugitives  every 
opportunity  to  close,  while  she  was  steadily  coming  up 
abreast  of  their  course,  in  readiness  to  meet  them. 

At  this  instant,  the  officer  in  the  Black  Prince's  cutter 
fired  into  that  of  the  Speedy ;  and  one  of  our  men  suddenly 
dropped  his  oar.  He  was  hit.  I  thought  the  poor  fellow's 
arm  was  broken,  for  I  could  see  him  lay  a  hand  on  the  in 
jured  part,  like  a  man  who  suffered  pain.  He  instantly 
changed  places  with  the  second-mate,  who,  however,  seized 
his  oar,  and  began  to  use  it,  with  great  power.  Three  more 
muskets  were  fired,  seemingly  without  doing  any  harm. 
But  the  leading  boat  lost  by  this  delay,  while  its  pursuers 
held  steadily  on.  Our  own  people  were  within  a  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  of  us — the  English  less  than  twenty  behind 
them.  Why  the  latter  did  not  now  fire,  I  do  not  actually 
know ;  but  I  suppose  it  to  be,  because  their  muskets  were 
all  discharged,  and  the  race  was  now  too  sharp  to  allow 
their  officer  to  re-load.  Possibly  he  did  not  wish  to  take 
life  unnecessarily,  the  chances  fast  turning  to  his  side. 

I  called  out  to  Marble  to  stand  by  with  a  rope.  The  ship 
was  slowly  drawing  ahead,  and  there  was  no  time  to  be  lost. 
I  then  shouted  to  my  second-mate  to  be  of  good  heart,  and 
he  answered  with  a  cheer.  The  English  hurrahed,  and  we 
sent  back  the  cry  from  the  ship. 

"  Stand  by  in  the  boat,  for  the  rope !"  I  cried — "  Heave, 
Moses— Heave !" 

Marble  hove  from  the  mizen  chains,  the  rope  was  caught, 
and  a  motion  of  my  hand  told  Neb  to  keep  the  ship  off, 
until  everything  drew.  This  was  done,  and  the  rattling  of 
the  clew-garnet  blocks  announced  that  Diogenes  was  haul 
ing  down  the  main-tack  with  the  strength  of  a  giant.  The 
sail  opened,  and  Moses  and  I  hauled  in  the  sheet,  until  the 
ship  felt  the  enormous  additional  pressure  of  this  broad 
breadth  of  canvass.  At  this  instant  there  was  a  cheer  from 
the  boat.  Leaping  upon  the  taffrail,  I  saw  the  men  erect, 
waving  their  hats,  and  looking  toward  the  pursuing  cutter, 
then  within  a  hundred  feet  of  them,  vainly  attempting  to 
come  up  with  a  boat  that  was  now  dragging  nearly  bows 
under,  and  feeling  aU  the  strength  of  our  tow.  The  officer 
cheered  his  men  to  renewed  exertion,  and  he  began  to  .oad 


268  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

a  musket.  At  this  moment  the  tow-line  slipped  from  tho 
thwart  of  the  boat,  and  we  shot  away,  as  it  seemed  to  me, 
a  hundred  feet,  on  the  send  of  the  very  next  sea.  There 
was  not  time  for  the  Americans  to  get  seated  at  their  oara 
again,  before  the  other  cutter  grappled.  All  that  had  been 
gained  was  lost,  and,  after  so  near  and  close  a  chance  of 
recovering  the  most  valuable  portion  of  my  crew,  was  1 
again  left  on  the  ocean  with  the  old  four  to  manage  the 
Dawn! 

The  English  lieutenant  knew  his  business  too  well,  to 
abandon  the  ship  while  there  was  a  chance  of  recovering 
her.  The  wind  lulled  a  little,  and  he  thought  the  hope  of 
success  worth  an  effort.  Merely  taking  all  the  oars  out  of  the 
Speedy's  cutter,  he  dashed  on  in  our  wake.  At  first  he 
gained,  nor  was  I  unwilling  he  should,  for  I  wished  to  speak 
him.  The  main  and  fore-sheets  were  eased  off,  and  Neb 
was  told  to  keep  the  top-sails  lifting.  Thus  favoured,  he 
soon  got  within  fifty  yards  of  us,  straining  every  nerve  to 
get  nearer.  The  officer  pointed  a  musket  at  me,  and  or 
dered  rne  to  heave-to.  I  jumped  off  the  taffrail,  and,  with 
my  body  covered  to  the  shoulders,  pointed  one  of  the  French 
muskets  at  him,  and  warned  him  to  keep  off. 

"  What  have  you  done  with  the  prize-crew  put  on  board 
you  from  the  Speedy,  the  other  day  ?"  called  out  the  lieu- 
tenant. 

"  Sent  them  adrift,"  I  answered.  "  We  've  had  enough 
of  prize-crews  in  this  ship,  and  want  no  more." 

"  Heave-to,  sir,  on  the  pain  of  being  treated  as  a  pirate, 
also." 

"  Ay,  ay — "  shouted  Marble,  who  could  keep  silent  no 
longer — "  first  catch  a  pirate.  Fire,  if  you  are  tired  of  your 
cruise.  I  wish  them  bloody  Frenchmen  had  stopped  all 
your  grog !" 

This  was  neither  dignified  nor  politic,  and  I  ordered  my 
mate  to  be  silent.  In  a  good-natured  tone  I  inquired  for  the 
names  of  the  late  combatants,  and  the  losses  of  the  different 
ships,  but  this  was  too  cool  for  our  pursuer's  humour,  and  I 
got  no  answer.  He  did  not  dare  fire,  however,  finding  we 
were  armed,  and,  as  I  supposed,  seeing  there  was  no  pros 
pect  of  his  getting  easily  on  board  us,  even  should  he  get 
alongside,  he  gave  up  the  chase,  returning  to  the  captured 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  269 

boat.  We  again  filled  and  trimmed  everything,  and  went 
dashing  through  the  water  at  the  rate  of  seven  knots. 

The  frigates  did  not  fire  at  us,  after  the  guns  already 
mentioned.  Why,  I  cannot  positively  say ;  but  I  thought, 
at  the  lime,  that  they  had  too  many  other  things  to  attend 
to,  besides  seeing  the  little  chance  there  was  of  overtaking 
us,  should  they  even  happen  to  cripple  a  spar  or  two. 

Great  was  the  disappointment  on  board  the  Dawn,  at  the 
result  of  the  final  incidents  of  this  eventful  day.  Marble 
swore  outright ;  for  no  remonstrances  of  mine  could  cure 
him  of  indulging  in  this  habit,  especially  when  a  little  ex 
cited.  Diogenes  grinned  defiance,  and  fairly  shook  his  fists 
at  the  boat ;  while  Neb  laughed  and  half-cried  in  a  breath— 
the  sure  sign  the  fellow's  feelings  were  keenly  aroused. 

As  for  myself,  I  felt  as  much  as  any  of  the  party,  but 
preserved  more  self-command.  I  saw  it  was  now  necessary 
to  quit  that  vicinity,  and  to  take  some  definite  steps  for  the 
preservation  of  my  own  ship  and  property.  There  was 
little  to  apprehend,  however,  from  the  frigates,  unless  indeed 
it  should  fall  calm.  In  the  latter  case,  they  might  board  us 
with  their  boats,  which  an  hour  or  two's  work  would  proba 
bly  enable  them  to  use  again.  But  I  had  no  intention  of 
remaining  in  their  neighbourhood,  being  desirous  of  profit 
ing  by  the  present  wind. 

The  sails  were  trimmed  accordingly,  and  the  ship  was 
steered  northwesterly,  on  a  course  that  took  us  past  the 
three  vessels  of  war,  giving  them  so  wide  a  berth  as  to  avoid 
all  danger  from  their  batteries.  As  soon  as  this  was  done, 
and  the  Dawn  was  travelling  her  road  at  a  good  rate,  I  beck 
oned  to  Marble  to  come  near  the  wheel,  for  I  had  taken  the 
helmsman's  duty  on  myself  for  an  hour  or  two :  in  other 
words,  I  was  doing  that  which,  from  my  boyish  experience 
on  the  Hudson,  I  had  once  fancied  it  was  not  only  the  duty, 
but  the  pleasure,  of  every  ship-master  to  do,  viz  :  steering  I 
Little  did  I  understand,  before  practice  taught  me  the  lesson, 
that  of  all  the  work  on  board  ship,  whx;n  Jack  is  required 
to  do,  his  trick  at  the  wheel  is  that  which  he  least  covets, 
unless  indeed  it  may  be  the  office  of  stowing  the  jib  in  heavy 
weather. 

"  Well,  Moses,"  I  began,  "  this  affair  is  over,  and  we  'vc 
the  Atlantic  before  us  again,  with  all  the  ports  of  Europe  to 
23* 


270  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

select  from,  nnd  a  captain,  one  mate,  the  cook,  and  one  man. 
to  carry  the  ship  where  we  please  to  take  her." 

"  Ay,  ay — 't  has  been  a  bad  job,  this  last.  I  was  as  sure 
of  them  lads,  umil  the  lieutenant  fired  his  musket,  as  ever 
I  was  of  a  good  land-fall  with  a  fair  wind.  I  can't  describe 
to  you,  Miles,  the  natur'  of  the  disapp'intment  I  felt,  when 
I  saw  'em  give  up.  I  can  best  compare  it  to  that  which 
came  over  me,  when  I  discovered  I  was  nothing  but  a  bloody 
Jhermit,  after  all  my  generalizing  about  being  a  governor 
and  a  lord  high  admiral  of  an  island,  all  to  myself,  as  it 
might  be." 

"  It  can't  be  helped,  and  we  must  take  things  as  we  find 
them.  The  question  is,  what  is  to  be  done  with  the  ship  ? 
Should  we  venture  into  the  channel,  yonder  chaps  will  be 
after  us  with  the  news  of  a  Yankee,  on  board  of  whom  they 
put  a  prize-crew,  being  adrift  without  the  men  ;  and  there 
are  fifty  cruisers  ready  to  pick  us  up.  The  news  will  spread 
all  over  the  channel  in  a  week,  and  our  chances  of  getting 
through  the  Straits  of  Dover  will  be  so  small  as  not  to  be 
worth  naming  :  nay,  these  fellows  will  soon  repair  damages, 
and  might  possibly  overtake  us  themselves.  The  Speedy 
is  only  half-crippled." 

"  I  see — I  see.  You  Ve  a  trick  with  you,  Miles,  that 
makes  a  few  words  go  a  great  way.  I  see,  and  I  agree. 
But  an  idee  has  come  to  my  mind,  that  you  're  welcome  to, 
and  after  turning  it  over,  do  what  you  please  with  it.  In 
stead  of  going  to  the  eastward  of  Scilly,  what  say  you  to 
passing  to  the  westward,  and  shaping  our  course  for  the 
Irish  Channel  ?  The  news  will  not  follow  us  that-a-way,  for 
some  time ;  and  we  may  meet  with  some  American,  or 
other,  bound  to  Liverpool.  Should  the  worst  come  to  the 
worst,  we  can  pass  through  between  Ireland  and  Scotland, 
and  work  our  way  round  Cape  Wrath,  and  go  into  our  port 
of  destination.  It  is  a  long  road,  I  know,  and  a  hard  one 
in  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  but  it  may  be  travelled  in 
midsummer,  comfortably  enough." 

"  I  like  your  notion  well  enough,  Marble,  and  am  ready 
to  carry  it  out,  as  far  as  we  are  able.  It  must  be  a  hard 
fortune,  indeed,  that  will  not  throw  us  in  the  way  of  some 
fisherman,  or  coaster,  who  will  be  willing  to  let  us  have  a 
hand  or  two,  for  double  wages." 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  271 

«l  Why,  on  that  p'int,  Miles,  the  difficulty  is  in  the  war, 
and  the  hot  press  that  must  now  be  going.  The  English 
will  be  shy  in  visiting  the  opposite  coast ;  and  good  men 
are  hard  to  find,  just  now,  I  'm  thinking,  floating  about  the 
coasts  of  England,  unless  they  are  under  a  pennant." 

"A  hand,  or  two,  that  can  steer,  will  be  an  immense 
relief  to  us,  Moses,  even  though  unable  to  go  aloft.  Call 
Neb  to  the  wheel,  then,  and  we'll  go  look  at  the  chart,  so  as 
to  lay  our  course." 

All  was  done,  accordingly.  In  half  an  hour,  the  Dawn 
was  steering  for  the  western  coast  of  England,  with  every 
thing  set  we  thought  it  prudent  to  carry.  Two  hours  after 
we  began  to  move  away  from  the  spot  where  they  lay,  the 
frigates  had  sunk  behind  the  curvature  of  the  earth,  and  we 
lost  sight  of  them  altogether.  The  weather  continued  good, 
the  breeze  steady  and  fresh,  and  the  Dawn  did  her  duty 
admirably.  We  began  to  get  accustomed  to  our  situations, 
and  found  them  less  arduous  than  had  been  apprehended. 
The  direction  of  the  wind  was  so  favourable,  that  it  kept 
hope  alive ;  though  we  trebled  our  distance  by  going  round 
the  British  islands,  instead  of  passing  directly  up  channel. 
Twenty-four  hours  were  necessary  to  carry  us  as  far  north 
as  the  Land's  End,  however ;  and  I  determined  to  be  then 
governed  by  circumstances.  Should  the  wind  shift,  we 
always  had  the  direct  route  before  us  ;  and  I  had  my  doubts 
whether  putting  a  bold  face  on  the  matter,  running  close  in 
with  the  English  shore,  and  appearing  to  be  bound  for  Lon 
don,  were  not  the  wisest  course.  There  certainly  was  the 
danger  of  the  Speedy's  telling  our  story,  in  which  case  there 
would  be  a  sharp  look-out  for  us;  while  there  was  the  equal 
chance  that  she  might  speak  nothing  for  a  week.  Eight- 
and-forty  hours  ahead  of  her,  I  should  not  have  feared 
much  from  her  account  of  us. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  minutely  on  the  events  of  the 
next  few  days.  The  weather  continued  good,  the  wind  fair 
and  our  progress  was  in  proportion.  We  saw  nothing  until 
we  got  within  two  leagues  of  Scilly  Light,  when  we  were 
boarded  by  a  pilot-boat  out  from  those  islands.  This  oc 
curred  at  sun-rise,  with  the  wind  light  at  north-east,  and  one 
sail  in  sight  to  windward,  that  had  th«  appearance  of  a  brig 


272  MILES     WALL1NGFOR0. 

of-war,  though  she  was  still  hull  down,  and  not  heading 
for  us. 

I  saw  that  the  small  ness  of  oar  crew,  and  the  course  wa 
were  steering,  struck  these  pilots,  the  moment  they  had  time 
to  ascertain  the  first  fact.  It  was  not  usual,  in  that  day, 
nor  do  I  suppose  it  is  now,,  for  deep-laden  Americans  to  pass 
so  near  England,  coming  from  the  south-east  and  steering 
to  the  north-west.  A  remark  to  this  effect  fell  from  the 
mouth  of  the  principal  piloty  as  soon  as  I  told  him  I  did  not 
wish  to  go  in  to  any  of  the  neighbouring  ports. 

"  I  am  short  of  hands,  an4  am  desirous  of  obtaining  three 
or  four  good  men,"  I  said,  "who  shall  be  well  paid  for  their 
services,  and  sent  back,  without  cost,,  to  the  place  whence 
they  came." 

"  Ay,  I  see  you  've  a  small  crew  fo*  so  stout  a  craft,  mas 
ter,"  the  pilot  answered.  "-May  I  ask  what  has  happened 
to  bring  you  down  so  low  ?' 

"  Why,  you  know  how  it  is  among  your  cruisers,  in  war 
time — an  English  frigate  carried  away  all  hands,  with  the 
exception  of  these  you  see." 

Now,  this  was  true  to  the  ear,  at  least,  though  I  saw, 
plainly  enough,  that  I  was  not  believed. 

"  It 's  not  often  His  Majesty's  officers  shave  so  close," 
the  pilot  answered,  with  a  sort  of  sneer  I  did  not  like. 
"  They  commonly  send  in  hands  with  a  ship,  when  they 
find  it  necessary  to  take  her  owa  men." 

"  Ay,  I  suppose  the  laws  require  this  with  English  ves 
sels  ;  with  Americans,  they  are  less  particular ;.  at  all  events, 
you  see  the  whole  of  us,  and  I  should  be  very  glad  ta  get 
a  hand  or  two,  if  possible,  oat  of  your  cutter." 

"  Where  are  you  bound,  master? — Before  we  ship,  we'd 
''ike  to  know  the  port  we  sail  for." 

"  Hamburg." 

"  Hamburg }  Why,  master,  you  're  not  heading  for  Ham 
burg,  at  all,  which  lies  up  the  English,  not  up  the  Irish 
channel." 

"  I  am  well  aware  of  all  that.  But  I  am  afraid  to  go  in 
to  the  English  channel  so  short-handed.  Those  narrow 
waters  give  a  man  trouble,  unless  he  has  a  full  crew." 

"  The  channel  is  a  good  place  to  find  men,  master.  How 
ever,  none  of  us  can  go  with  you,  and  no  word*  be  neces* 


MILES     WAELING  FORD.  273 

sary.     As  you  ve  no  occasion  for  a  pilot,  we  must  be  off 
a'ter  something  else." 

The  fellow  now  left  me,  without  more  words,  and  I  saw 
there  was  no  use  in  attempting  to  detain  him.  He  had  got 
a  league  from  us,  and  we  were  jogging  on  our  course,  be 
fore  we  discovered  he  was  making  signals  to  the  brig,  which 
had  kept  dead  away,  and  had  set  studding-sails  on  both 
sides.  As  this  was  carrying  much  more  sail  than  we  could 
venture  to  show,  I  thought  our  chance  of  escape  small  in 
deed.  There  was  the  whole  day  before  us,  with  a  light, 
and  doubtless  fast-sailing  cruiser  in  chase  of  a  heavily-load 
ed  merchantman.  As  a  stern-chase  is,  proverbially,  a  long 
chase,  however,  I  determined  to  do  all  we  could  to  avoid 
the  gentleman.  Sail  was  made,  accordingly,  so  far  as  we 
dared,  and  the  ship  was  steered  a  little  off,  as  her  best  mode 
of  sailing,  in  her  present  trim.  We  saw  the  brig  speak  the 
pilot-boat,  and,  from  that  moment,  were  certain  her  com 
mander  had  all  the  conjectures  of  the  Scilly  man  added  to 
his  own.  The  effect  was  soon  to  be  noted,  for  when  the 
two  separated,  the  cutter  stood  in  for  her  own  rocks,  while 
the  brig  renewed  her  chase. 

That  was  an  uneasy  day.  The  man-of-war  gained,  but 
it  was  quite  slowly.  She  might  beat  us  by  a  knot  in  the 
hour,  and,  being  ten  miles  astern,  there  was  still  the  hope  of 
its  falling  dark  before  she  could  close.  The  wind,  too,  was 
unsteady,  and  towards  noon  it  grew  so  light,  as  to  reduce 
both  vessels  to  only  two  or  three  knots  way.  Of  course, 
this  greatly  lessened  the  difference  in  our  rate  of  sailing, 
and  I  had  now  strong  hopes  that  night  might  come,  before 
our  pursuers  could  close. 

Nor  was  I  disappointed.  The  wind  continued  light  until 
sun-set,  when  it  came  out  a  fine  breeze  at  north-west,  bring 
ing  us  dead  to  windward  of  the  brig,  which  was  then  dis 
tant  some  six  miles.  We  got  the  proper  sail  on  the  ship, 
as  fast  as  we  could,  though  the  cruiser  was  dashing  ahead 
under  everything  she  could  carry,  long  before  we  could 
get  through  with  the  necessary  work.  When  we  did  get 
at  it,  notwithstanding,  I  found  she  had  not  much  the  advan 
tage  of  us,  and  now  began  to  entertain  some  hopes  of  shak 
ing  her  off  in  the  course  of  the  night.  Marble  was  confi 


274  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

dent  of  it,  and  his  confidence,   on  points  of  seamanship, 
was  always  entitled  to  respect. 

About  ten,  both  vessels  were  on  the  starboard  tack,  stand- 
ing  to  the  southward  and  westward,  or  out  towards  the 
broad  Atlantic,  with  the  brig  about  a  league  under  the 
Dawn's  lee,  and  a  little  forward  of  her  beam.  This  was 
the  most  favourable  position  for  us  to  be  in,  in  order  to  effect 
our  purpose,  since  the  cruiser  had  already  passed  her  near 
est  point  to  us,  on  that  tack.  The  horizon  to  windward, 
and  all  along  the  margin  of  the  sea  at  the  northward,  was 
covered  with  clouds,  which  threatened,  by  the  way,  a  cap- 
full  of  wind.  This  dark  back-ground  would  be  likely  to 
prevent  our  being  seen ;  and  the  instant  the  night  shut  in 
the  outline  of  the  brig's  canvass,  I  ordered  our  helm  put 
down. 

It  was  lively  business,  tacking  such  a  ship  as  the  Dawn, 
under  so  much  canvass,  and  in  such  a  breeze,  with  four 
men !  The  helm  was  lashed  hard  down,  and  at  it  we  went, 
like  so  many  tigers.  The  after-yards  swung  themselves 
though  the  main-tack  and  sheet  gave  us  a  good  deal  of 
trouble.  We  braced  everything  aft,  sharp  up,  before  we 
left  it,  having  first  managed  to  get  the  fore-yard  square. 
When  this  was  done,  we  filled  all  forward,  and  dragged  the 
yards  and  bow-lines  to  their  places,  with  a  will  that  seemed 
irresistible. 

There  were  no  means  of  knowing  whether  the  brig  came 
round,  about  this  time,  or  not.  Agreeably  to  the  rule  of 
chasing,  she  should  have  tacked  when  directly  abeam,  un 
less  she  fancied  she  could  eat  us  out  of  the  wind  by  stand 
ing  on.  We  knew  she  did  not  tack  when  directly  abeam, 
but  we  could  not  see  whether  she  came  round  after  us,  or 
not.  At  all  events,  tack  or  not,  she  must  still  be  near  a 
league  under  our  lee,  and  we  drove  on,  towards  the  English 
coast,  until  the  day  re-appeared,  not  a  man  of  us  all  sleep 
ing  a  wink  that  night.  How  anxiously  we  watched  the 
ocean  astern,  and  to  leeward,  as  the  returning  light  slowly 
raised  the  veil  of  obscurity  from  before  us  !  Nothing  was 
in  sight,  even  when  the  sun  appeared,  to  bathe  the  entire 
ocean  in  a  flood  of  glory.  Not  even  a  white  speck  in 
shore  ;  and  as  for  the  brig,  we  never  saw  or  heard  more  of 
her.  Doubtless  she  stood  on,  on  the  old  course,  hoping 


MILES    WALLINOFORD.  275 

gradually  to  close  with  us,  or  to  draw  so  far  ahead  and  to 
windward,  as  to  make  certain  of  her  prey  in  the  morning. 

According  to  our  reckoning,  the  ship  was  now  heading 
well  up  towards  the  coast  of  Wales,  which  we  might  expect 
to  make  in  the  course  of  the  next  four-and-twenty  hours, 
should  the  wind  stand.  I  determined,  therefore,  to  make 
the  best  of  the  matter,  and  to  go  directly  up  the  Irish  chan 
nel,  hoping  to  fall  in  with  some  boat  from  the  north  shore, 
that  might  not  have  as  apt  intellects  on  board  it,  as  those  of 
our  Scilly  pilot  had  proved  to  be.  We  stood  on,  consequent 
ly,  all  that  day ;  and  another  sun  set  without  our  making 
the  land.  We  saw  several  vessels  at  a  distance,  in  the 
afternoon ;  but  we  were  now  in  a  part  of  the  ocean  where 
an  American  ship  would  be  as  little  likely  to  be  disturbed 
as  in  any  I  know.  It  was  the  regular  track  of  vessels 
bound  to  Liverpool, — and  these  last  were  as  little  molested 
as  the  want  of  men  would  at  all  permit.  Could  we  get  past 
that  port,  we  should  then  be  in  the  way  of  picking  up  half 
a  dozen  Irishmen. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

«« Och  !  botheration— 'T  is  a  beautiful  coost 

All  made  up  of  rocks  and  deep  bays ; 
Ye  may  sail  up  and  down,  a  marvellous  host, 
And  admire  all  its  beautiful  ways." 

IRISH  So«o. 

LITTLE  did  we,  or  could  we,  anticipate  all  that  lay  before 
us.  The  wind  held  at  north-west  until  the  ship  had  got 
within  twenty  miles  of  the  Welsh  coast ;  then,  it  came  out 
light,  again,  at  the  southward.  We  were  now  so  near  Liv 
erpool,  that  I  expected,  every  hour,  to  make  some  American 
bound  in.  None  was  seen,  notwithstanding,  and  we  stood 
up  channel,  edging  over  towards  the  Irish  coast  at  the  same 
time,  determined  to  work  our  way  to  the  northward  as  well 
as  we  could.  This  sort  of  weather  continued  for  two  days 
and  nights,  during  which  we  managed  to  get  up  as  high  a8 


MILES     W  ALLIN»FORI>. 

Whitehaven,  when  the  wind  canae-  dead  ahead,  blowiijg  a 
stiff  breeze.  I  foresaw  from  the  commence  me  at  of  this  Dew 
wind,  tha*  it  would  probably  drive  us  down  channel,  and, 
out  into  the  Atlantic  once  more,  unless  we  could  anchor.  I 
thought  I  would  attempt  the  last,  somewhere  under  the  Irish 
coast,  in  the  hope  of  getting  some  assistance  from  among 
the  children  of  St.  Patrick.  We  all  kaew  that  Irish  sailors, 
half  the  time,  were  not  very  well  trained,,  but  anything  that 
eould  pull  and  haul  would  be  invaluable  to  us,  in  heavy 
weather.  We  had  now  been  more  than  a  week,  four  of  us 
in  all,  working  the  ship,  and,  instead  of  being  in  the  least 
fagged,  we  had  rather  got  settled  into  os*  places,  as  it  might 
be,  getting  along  without  much  trouble;  still,  there  were 
moments  when  a  little  extra  force  would  be  of  great  moment 
to  us,  and  I  could  see  by  the  angry  look  of  the  skies,  that 
these  moments  were  likely  to  increase  i»  frequency  and  in 
the  magnitude  of  their  importance  to  us. 

The  waters  we  were  in  were  so  narro\%,  that  it  was  not 
long  before  we  drew  close  in  with  the  Irish  eoast.  Here,  to 
my  great  joy,  we  saw  a  large  fishing-boat,  well  out  in  the 
offing,  and  under  circumstances  that  rendered  it  easy  for 
those  in  it  to  run  close  under  our  lee.  We  made  a  signal, 
therefore,  and  soon  had  the  strangers-  Jying-to,  in  the 
smooth  water  we  made  for  them,  with  our  own  main-yarci 
aback.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say,  that  we  had  gradu 
ally  diminished  our  own  canvass,  as  it  became  necessary, 
until  the  ship  was  under  double-reefed  top-sails,  the  fore- 
course,  jib  and  spanker.  We  had  brought  the  top-sails 
down  lower  than  was  necessary,  in  order  to  anticipate  the 
time  when  it  might  be  indispensable. 

The  first  of  the  men  who  came  on  board  us  was  named 
Terence  O'  something.  His  countenance  was  the  droll 
medley  of  fun,  shrewdness,  and  blundering,  that  is  so  often 
found  in  the  Irish  peasant,  and  which  appears  to  be  char 
acteristic  of  entire  races  in  the  island. 

"  A  fine  marnin7,  yer  honour,"  he  began,  with  a  self-pos 
session  that  nothing  could  disturb,  though  it  was  some  time 
past  noon,  and  the  day  was  anything  but  such  a  one  as  a 
seaman  likes.  "  A  fine  marnin',  yer  honour,  and  as  fine  a 
•hip !  Is  it  fish  that  yer  honour  will  be  asking  for?" 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  277 

•*  i  will  take  some  of  your  fish,  my  friend,  and  pay  you 
well  for  them." 

"  Long  life  to  yees  !" 

"  I  was  about  to  say,  I  will  pay  you  much  better  if  you 
can  show  me  any  lee,  hereabouts,  which  has  good  holding- 
ground,  where  a  ship  might  ride  out  the  gale  that  is 
coming." 

"  Shu  re  yer  honour ! — will  I  not  ?  Shure,  there 's  nivver 
the  lad  on  the  coost,  that  knows  betther  what  it  is  yer  hon 
our  wants,  or  who  '11  supply  yees,  with  half  the  good  will." 

"  Of  course  you  know  the  coast ;  probably  were  born 
hereabouts  ?" 

"Of  coorse,  is  it?  Whereabouts  should  Terence  O' 
something,  be  born,  if  it 's  not  hereabouts  ?  Is  it  know  the 
coost,  too?  Ah,  we're  ould  acquaintances." 

"  And  where  do  you  intend  to  lake  the  ship,  Terence  ?" 

"  It 's  houlding  ground,  yer  honour  asked  for?" 

"Certainly.  —  A  bottom  on  which  an  anchor  will  not 
drag." 

"  Och !  is  it  that  ?  Well,  all  the  bottom  in  this  counthry 
is  of  that  same  natur'.  None  of  it  will  drag,  without  pulling 
mighty  hard.  I'll  swear  to  any  part  of  it." 

11  You  surely  would  not  think  of  anchoring  a  ship  out 
here,  a  league  from  the  land,  with  nothing  to  break  either 
wind  or  sea,  and  a  gale  commencing?" 

"  I  anchor  !  Divil  the  bit  did  I  ever  anchor  a  ship,  or  a 
brig,  or  even  a  cutther.  I  've  not  got  so  high  up  as  that,  yer 
honour :  but  yon  ;s  ould  Michael  Sweeny,  now ;  many  '3 
the  anchor  he 's  cast  out,  miles  at  a  time,  sayin'  he 's  been  a 
sayman,  and  knows  the  says  from  top  to  bottom.  It's 
Michael  ye  '11  want,  and  Michael  ye  shall  have." 

Michael  was  spoken  to,  and  he  clambered  up  out  of  the 
boat,  as  well  as  he  could ;  the  task  not  being  very  easy, 
since  the  fishermen  with  difficulty  kept  their  dull,  heavy 
boat  out  of  our  mizen  chains.  In  the  mean  time,  Marble 
and  I  found  time  to  compare  notes.  We  agreed  that  Mr. 
Terence  McScale,  or  O'  something, — for  I  forget  the  fellow'3 
surname, — would  probably  turn  out  a  more  useful  man  in 
hauling  in  mackerel  and  John  Dorys,  than  in  helping  us  to 
take  care  of  the  Dawn.  Nor  did  Michael,  at  the  first  glance, 
promise  anything  much  better.  He  was  very  old, — eighty. 
24 


278 


MILES     WALLINGFORD. 


I  should  think, — and  appeared  to  have  nullified  all  the  braias 
he  ever  had,  by  the  constant  use  of  whiskey ;  the  scent  of 
which  accompanied  him  with  a  sort  of  parasitical  odour,  as 
that  of  tannin  attends  the  leather-dresser.  He  was  not 
drunk  just  then,  however,  but  seemed  cool  and  collected.  I 
explained  my  wishes  to  this  man ;  and  was  glad  to  find  he 
had  a  tolerable  notion  of  nautical  terms,  and  that  he  would 
not  be  likely  to  get  us  into  difficulty,  like  Terence,  through 
any  ignorance  on  this  score. 

"  Is  it  anchor  ye  would,  yer  honour?"  answered  Michael, 
when  I  had  concluded.  "  Sure,  that 's  aisy  enough,  and  the 
saison  is  good  for  that  same;  for  the  wind  is  getting  up  like 
a  giant.  As  for  the  guineas  yer  honour  mintions,  it 's  of  no 
avail  atween  fri'nds.  I  '11  take  'em,  to  obleege  ye,  if  yer 
honour  so  wills :  but  the  ship  should  be  anchored  if  there 
niver  was  a  grain  of  goold  in  the  wur-r-r-ld.  Would  ye 
like  a  berth  pratty  well  out,  or  would  yer  honour  choose  to 
go  in  among  the  rocks,  and  lie  like  a  babby  in  its  cradhle?" 

"  I  should  prefer  a  safe  roadstead,  to  venturing  too  far  in, 
without  a  professed  pilot.  By  the  look  of  the  land  in-shore, 
I  should  think  it  would  be  easy  to  find  a  lee  against  this 
wind,  provided  we  can  get  good  holding-ground.  That  is 
the  difficulty  I  most  apprehend." 

"  Trust  ould  Ireland  for  that,  yer  honour ;  yes,  put  faith 
in  us,  for  that  same.  Ye  Ve  only  to  fill  your  top-sail, 
and  stand  in ;  ould  Michael  and  ould  Ireland  together,  will 
take  care  of  yees." 

I  confess  I  greatly  disliked  the  aspect  of  things  in-shore, 
with  such  a  pilot ;  but  the  aspect  of  things  outside  was  still 
worse.  Short-handed  as  we  were,  it  would  be  impossible  to 
keep  the  ship  in  the  channel,  should  the  gale  come  on  as 
heavily  as  it  threatened ;  and  a  single  experiment  satisfied 
me,  the  four  men  in  the  boat  would  be  of  very  little  use  in 
working  her :  for  I  never  saw  persons  who  knew  anything 
of  the  water,  more  awkward  than  they  turned  out  to  be  on 
our  decks.  Michael  knew  something,  it  is  true ;  but  he  was 
too  old  to  turn  his  knowledge  to  much  practical  account,  for 
when  I  sent  him  to  the  wheel,  Neb  had  to  remain  there  to 
assist  him  in  steering.  There  was  no  choice,  therefore,  and 
I  determined  to  stand  close  in,  when,  should  no  suitable 
berth  offer,  it  would  always  be  in  our  power  to  ware  off- 


MILES     WALL1NGFORD.  279 

shore.  The  fishing-boat  was  dropped  astern,  accordingly, 
the  men  were  all  kept  in  the  ship,  and  we  stood  in  nearer  to 
the  coast :  the  Dawn  bending  to  the  blasts,  under  the  sail 
we  carried,  in  a  way  to  render  it  difficult  to  stand  erect  on 
her  decks. 

The  coast  promised  well  as  to  formation,  though  there 
was  much  to  apprehend  on  the  subject  of  the  bottom. 
Among  rocks  an  anchor  is  a  ticklish  thing  to  confide  in,  and 
I  feared  it  might  be  a  difficult  matter  to  find  a  proper  hot- 
torn,  as  far  out  as  I  deemed  it  prudent  to  remain.  But  Mi 
chael,  and  Terence,  and  Pat,  and  Murphy,  or  whatevei 
were  the  names  of  our  protesting  confident  friends,  insisted 
that  '  ould  Ireland'  would  never  fail  us.  Marble  and  I  stood 
on  the  forecastle,  watching  the  formation  of  the  coast,  and 
making  our  comments,  as  the  ship  drove  through  the  short 
seas,  buried  to  her  figure-head.  At  length,  we  thought  a 
headland  that  was  discernible  a  little  under  our  lee-bow, 
looked  promising,  and  Michael  was  called  from  the  wheel 
and  questioned  concerning  it.  The  fellow  affirmed  he  knew 
the  place  well,  and  that  the  holding-ground  on  each  side  of 
jt  was  excellent,  consenting  at  once  to  a  proposition  of  mine 
to  bring  up  under  its  lee.  We  edged  off",  therefore,  for  this 
point,  making  the  necessary  preparations  for  bringing  up. 

I  was  too  busy  in  getting  in  canvas  to  note  the  progress 
of  the  ship  for  the  next  twenty  minutes.  It  took  all  four  of 
us  to  stow  the  jib,  leaving  Michael  at  the  wheel  the  while. 
And  a  tremendous  job  it  was,  though  (I  say  it  in  humility) 
four  better  men  never  lay  out  on  a  spar,  than  those  who  set 
about  the  task  on  this  occasion.  We  got  it  in,  however,  but, 
I  need  scarcely  tell  the  seaman,  it  was  not  "  stowed  in  the 
skin."  Marble  insisted  on  leading  the  party,  and  never  be 
fore  had  I  seen  the  old  fellow  work  as  he  did  on  that  day. 
He  had  a  faculty  of  incorporating  his  body  and  limbs  with 
the  wood  and  ropes,  standing,  as  it  might  be,  on  air,  work 
ing  and  dragging  with  his  arms  and  broad  shoulders,  in  a 
way  that  appeared  to  give  him  just  as  much  command  of 
his  entire  strength,  as  another  man  would  possess  on  tha 
ground. 

At  length  we  reduced  the  canvass  to  the  fore-top-mast 
stay-sail,  and  main-top-sail,  the  latter  double-reefed.  It  was 
getting  to  be  time  that  the  last  should  be  close  reefed,  (and 


280  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

we  carried  four  reefs  in  the  Dawn),  but  we  hoped  the  cloth 
would  hold  out  until  we  wanted  to  roll  it  up  altogether. 
The  puffs,  however,  began  to  come  gale-fashion,  and  I  fore 
saw  we  should  get  it  presently  in  a  style  that  would  require 
good  looking  to. 

The  ship  soon  drove  within  the  extremity  of  the  head 
land,  the  lead  giving  us  forty  fathoms  of  water.  I  had  pre 
viously  asked  Michael  what  water  we  might  expect,  but  this 
he  frankly  owned  he  could  not  tell.  He  was  certain  that 
ships  sometimes  anchored  there,  but  what  water  they  found 
was  more  than  he  knew.  He  was  no  conjuror,  and  guess 
ing  might  be  dangerous,  so  he  chose  to  say  nothing  about 
it.  It  was  nervous  work  for  a  ship-master  to  carry  his  ves 
sel  on  a  coast,  under  such  pilotage  as  this.  I  certainly 
would  have  wore  round  as  it  was,  were  it  not  for  the  fact 
that  there  was  a  clear  sea  to  leeward,  and  that  it  would 
always  be  as  easy  to  run  out  into  the  open  water,  as  the 
wind  was  at  that  moment. 

Marble  and  I  now  began  to  question  our  fisherman  as  to 
the  precise  point  where  he  intended  to  fetch  up.  Michael 
was  bothered,  and  it  was  plain  enough  his  knowledge  was 
of  the  most  general  character.  As  for  the  particulars  of 
his  calling,  he  treated  them  with  the  coolest  indifference. 
He  had  been  much  at  sea  in  his  younger  days,  it  is  true ;  but 
it  was  in  ships  of  war,  where  the  ropes  were  put  into  his 
hands  by  captains  of  the  mast,  and  where  his  superiors  did 
all  the  thinking.  He  could  tell  whether  ships  did  or  did  not 
anchor  near  a  particular  spot,  but  he  knew  no  reason  for 
the  one,  or  for  the  other.  In  a  word,  he  had  just  that  sort 
of  knowledge  of  seamanship  as  one  gets  of  the  world  by 
Jiving  in  a  province,  where  we  all  learn  the  leading  princi 
ples  of  humanity,  and  trust  to  magazines  and  works  of 
fiction  for  the  finesse  of  life. 

The  lead  proved  a  better  guide  than  Michael,  and  seeing 
some  breakers  in-shore  of  us,  I  gave  the.order  to  clew  up 
the  main-top-sail,  and  to  luff*  to  the  wind,  before  the  ship 
should  lose  her  way.  Our  Irishmen  pulled  and  hauled  well 
enough,  as  soon  as  they  were  directed  what  to  do ;  which 
enabled  Marble  and  myself  each  to  stand  by  a  stopper.  We 
had  previously  got  the  two  bowers  a-cock-bill,  (the  cables 
were  bent  as  soon  as  we  made  the  land) ;  and  nothing  re- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  281 

mained  but  to  let  run.  Neb  was  at  the  wheel,  with  orders 
to  spring  to  the  cables  as  soon  as  he  heard  them  running 
out,  and  everything  was  in  readiness.  I  shouted  the  order 
to  "  let  run,"  and  down  both  our  anchors  went,  at  the  same 
instant,  in  twenty-two  fathoms'  water.  The  ship  took  cable 
at  a  fearful  rate ;  but  Marble  and  Diogenes  being  at  one 
bower,  and  Neb  and  I  at  the  other,  we  succeeded  in  snub 
bing  her,  with  something  like  twenty  fathoms  within  the 
hawse-holes.  There  was  a  minute,  when  I  thought  the  old 
bark  would  get  away  from  us ;  and  when,  by  desperate 
efforts,  we  did  succeed  in  checking  the  mass,  it  seemed  as 
if  she  would  shake  the  windlass  out  of  her.  No  time  was 
lost  in  stoppering  the  cables,  and  in  rolling  up  the  main 
top-sail. 

Michael  and  his  companions  now  came  to  wish  as  good 
luck,  get  the  guineas,  and  to  take  their  leave.  The  sea  was 
already  so  rough  that  the  only  mode  that  remained  of  getting 
into  their  boat  was  by  dropping  from  the  end  of  the  spanker 
boom.  I  endeavoured  to  persuade  two  or  three  of  these 
fellows  to  stick  by  the  ship,  but  in  vain.  They  were  all 
married,  and  they  had  a  certain  protection  against  impress 
ment  in  their  present  manner  of  life ;  whereas,  should  they 
be  found  at  large,  some  man-of-war  would  probably  pick 
them  up  ;  and  Michael's  tales  of  the  past  had  not  given  them 
any  great  zest  for  the  sort  of  life  he  described. 

When  these  Irish  fishermen  left  us,  and  ran  in-shore,  we 
were  thrown  again  altogether  on  our  own  resources.  I  had 
explained  to  Michael  our  want  of  hands,  however,  attributing 
it  to  accidents  and  impressments,  and  he  thought  he  could 
persuade  four  or  five  young  fellows  to  come  off,  as  soon  as 
the  gale  abated,  on  condition  we  would  take  them  to  Ame 
rica,  after  discharging  at  Hamburg.  These  were  to  be  mere 
peasants,  it  is  true,  for  seamen  were  scarce  in  that  part  of 
the  world  ;  but  they  would  be  better  than  nothing.  Half  a 
dozen  athletic  young  Irishmen  would  relieve  us  seamen 
from  a  vast  deal  of  the  heavy,  lugging  work  of  the  ship, 
and  leave  us  strength  and  spirits  to  do  that  which  unavoid 
ably  fell  to  our  share.  With  the  understanding  that  he  was 
to  receive,  himself,  a  guinea  a-head  for  each  sound  man 
thus  brought  us,  we  parted  from  old  Michael,  who  probably 
has  never  piloted  a  ship  since,  as  I  strongly  suspect  he  had 
never  done  bofore. 
24* 


282  MILES     WALLING  FORD 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

**  The  power  of  God  is  everywhere, 

Pervades  all  space  and  time : 
The  power  of  God  can  still  the  air, 

And  rules  in  every  clime ; — 
Then  bow  the  heart,  and  bend  the  knee, 
And  worship  o'er  both  land  and  sea." 

Duo. 

I  NEVER  knew  precisely  the  point  on  the  coast  of  Ireland, 
where  we  anchored.  It  was  somewhere  between  Strang- 
ford  and  Dundrum  Bay ;  though  the  name  of  the  head-land 
which  gave  us  a  sort  of  protection,  I  did  not  learn.  In  this 
part  of  the  island,  the  coast  trends  north  and  south,  gene 
rally  ;  though  at  the  place  where  we  anchored,  its  direction 
was  nearly  from  north-north-east  to  south-south-west, — 
which,  in  the  early  part  of  the  gale,  was  as  close  as  might 
be  the  course  in  which  the  wind  blew.  At  the  moment  we 
brought  up,  the  wind  had  hauled  a  little  further  to  the  north 
ward,  giving  us  a  better  lee;  but,  to  my  great  regret,  Michael 
had  scarcely  left  us,  when  it  shifted  to  due  north-east, 
making  a  fair  rake  of  the  channel.  This  left  us  very  little 
of  a  lee — the  point  ahead  of  us  being  no  great  matter,  and 
we  barely  within  it.  I  consulted  such  maps  as  I  had,  and 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  we  were  off  the  county  Down, 
a  part  of  the  kingdom  that  was  at  least  civilized,  and  where 
we  should  be  apt  to  receive  good  treatment,  in  the  event  of 
being  wrecked.  Our  fishermen  told  us  that  they  belonged 
to  a  Bally-something;  but  what  the  something  was  I  have 
forgotten,  if  I  ever  understood  them.  "  Told  us,"  I  say  out 
of  complaisance,  but  "  tould  "  would  be  the  better  word,  as 
all  they  uttered  savoured  so  much  of  the  brogue,  that  it  was 
not  always  easy  to  get  at  their  meaning. 

It  was  past  noon  when  the  Dawn  anchored ;  and  the 
wind  got  more  to  the  eastward,  about  half  an  hour  after 
wards.  It  was  out  of  the  question  to  think  of  getting  under 
way  again,  with  so  strong  a  wind,  and  with  our  feeble  crew. 
Had  it  been  perfectly  smooth  water,  and  had  there  been 
neither  tide,  nor  air,  it  would  have  taken  us  half  a  day,  at 


MILES    WALLINGPORD.  283 

least,  to  get  out  two  bowers.  It  was  folly,  therefore,  to 
think  of  it,  situated  as  we  were.  It  only  remained,  to  ride 
out  the  gale  in  the  best  manner  we  could. 

Nothing  occurred,  for  several  hours,  except  that  the  gale 
increased  sensibly  in  violence.  Like  an  active  disease,  it 
was  fast  coming  to  a  crisis.  Towards  sunset,  however,  a 
little  incident  took  place,  that  gave  me  great  uneasiness  of 
itself,  though  I  had  forebodings  of  evil  from  the  commence 
ment  of  that  tempest.  Two  sail  appeared  in  sight,  to  wind 
ward,  being  quite  near  us,  close  in  with  the  Insh  coast 
before  either  was  observed  on  board  the  Dawn.  The  lead 
ing  vessel  of  the  two  was  a  man-of-war  cutter,  running 
nearly  before  it,  under  a  close-reefed  square-sail, — canvass 
so  low  that  it  might  easily  be  confounded  with  the  foam  of 
the  sea,  at  a  little  distance.  She  rounded  the  head-land, 
and  was  edging  away  from  the  coast,  apparently  for  sea- 
room,  when  she  took  a  sudden  sheer  in  our  direction.  As 
if  curious  to  ascertain  what  could  have  taken  so  large  a 
square-rigged  vessel  as  the  Dawn,  into  her  present  berth, 
this  cutter  actually  ran  athwart  our  hawse,  passing  inside 
of  us,  at  a  distance  of  some  fifty  yards.  We  were  exam 
ined  ;  but  no  attempt  was  made  to  speak  us.  I  felt  no  un 
easiness  at  the  proximity  of  these  two  cruisers,  for  I  knew 
a  boat  could  not  live, — our  ship  fairly  pitching  her  martin 
gale  into  the  water  at  her  anchors. 

Jhe  frigate  followed  the  cutter,  though  she  passed  us  out 
side,  even  nearer  than  her  consort.  I  got  my  first  accurate 
notion  of  the  weight  of  the  gale,  by  seeing  this  large  ship 
drive  past  us,  under  a  reefed  fore-sail,  and  a  close-reefed 
main-top-sail,  running  nearly  dead  before  it.  As  she  came 
down,  she  took  a  sheer,  like  a  vessel  scudding  in  the  open 
ocean;  and,  at  one  moment,  I  feared  she  would  plunge 
directly  into  us,  though  she  minded  her  helm  in  time  to 
clear  everything.  A  dozen  officers  on  board  her  were  look 
ing  at  us,  from  her  gangway,  her  quarter-deck  guns,  and 
rigging.  All  were  compelled  to  hold  on  with  firm  grasps  ; 
and  wonder  seemed  painted  in  every  countenance.  I  could 
see  their  features  for  half  a  minute  only,  or  even  a  less 
time;  but  I  could  discern  this  expression  in  each  face. 
Some  looked  up  at  our  spars,  as  if  to  ascertain  whether  all 
were  right ;  while  others  looked  back  at  the  head-land  they 


284  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

had  just  rounded,  like  those  who  examined  the  roadstead. 
Most  shook  their  heads,  as  remarks  passed  from  one  to  the 
other.  The  captain,  as  I  took  him  to  be,  spoke  us.  "  What 
are  you  doing  here?"  came  to  me  through  a  trumpet,  plainly 
enough ;  but  answering  was  out  of  the  question.  Before  I 
could  even  get  a  trumpet  to  my  mouth,  the  frigate  had  gone 
foaming  by,  and  was  already  beyond  the  reach  of  the 
voice.  Heads  appeared  over  her  taffrail  for  some  time,  and 
we  fancied  these  man-of-war's  men  regarded  us  as  the  in 
structed  are  apt  to  regard  the  ignorant,  whom  they  fancy  to 
be  in  danger.  Marble  sneered  a  little  at  the  curiosity  be 
trayed  by  these  two  crafts ;  but,  as  for  myself,  it  caused 
great  uneasiness.  I  fancied  they  acted  like  those  who  were 
acquainted  with  the  coast,  manifesting  surprise  at  seeing  a 
stranger  anchored  in  the  berth  we  occupied. 

I  slept  little  that  night.  Marble  kept  me  company  most 
of  the  time,  but  Neb  and  Diogenes  were  as  tranquil  as  if 
sleeping  on  good  French  mattresses  —  made  of  hair,  not 
down — within  the  walls  of  a  citadel.  Little  disturbed  these 
negroes,  who  followed  our  fortunes  with  the  implicit  reliance 
that  habit  and  education  had  bred  in  them,  as  it  might  be, 
in  and  in.  In  this  particular,  they  were  literally  dyed  in 
the  wool,  to  use  one  of  the  shop  expressions  so  common 
among  us. 

There  was  a  little  relaxation  in  the  force  of  the  gale  in 
the  middle  of  the  night ;  but,  with  the  return  of  day,  c%me 
the  winds  howling  down  upon  us,  in  a  way  that  announced 
a  more  than  common  storm.  All  hands  of  us  were  now 
up,  and  paying  every  attention  to  the  vessel.  My  greatest 
concern  had  been  lest  some  of  the  sails  should  get  adrift, 
for  they  had  been  furled  by  few  and  fatigued  men.  This 
did  not  happen,  however,  our  gaskets  and  lashings  doing  all 
of  their  duty.  We  got  our  breakfasts,  therefore,  in  the  or 
dinary  way,  an"1  Marble  and  myself  went  and  stood  on  the 
forecastle,  to  watch  the  signs  of  the  times,  like  faithful 
guardians,  who  were  anxious  to  get  as  near  as  possible  to 
the  danger. 

It  was  wonderful  how  the  ship  pitched  !  Frequently  her 
Aurora  was  completely  submerged,  and  tons  of  water  would 
come  in  upon  the  forecastle,  washing  entirely  aft  at  the  next 
Bend,  so  that  our  only  means  of  keeping  above  waie  was 


MILES    W  AL1.INOFORD. 

to  stand  on  the  windlass-bitts,  or  to  get  upon  the  heart  of  the 
main-stay.  Dry  we  were  not,  nor  did  we  think  of  attempt 
ing  to  be  so,  but  such  expedients  were  necessary  to  enable 
us  to  remain  stationary ;  often  to  enable  us  to  breathe.  I 
no  longer  wondered  at  the  manner  in  which  the  cutter  and 
frigate  had  examined  our  position.  It  was  quite  clear  the 
fishermen  knew  very  little  about  finding  a  proper  berth  for 
a  ship,  and  that  we  might  pretty  nearly  as  well  have  brought 
up  in  the  middle  of  St.  George's  channel,  could  our  ground- 
tackle  reach  the  bottom,  as  to  have  brought  up  where  we 
were. 

Just  about  nine  o'clock,  Marble  and  I  had  got  near  each 
other  on  the  fife-rail,  and  held  a  consultation  on  the  subject 
of  our  prospects.  Although  we  both  clung  to  the  same  top 
sail-sheet,  we  were  obliged  to  hallow  to  make  ourselves 
heard,  the  howling  of  the  wind  through  the  rigging  convert 
ing  the  hamper  into  a  sort  of  tremendous  Eolian  Harp, 
while  the  roar  of  the  water  kept  up  a  species  of  bass  ac 
companiment  to  this  music  of  the  ocean.  Marble  was  the 
one  who  had  brought  about  this  communication,  and  he  was 
the  first  to  speak. 

"  I  say,  Miles,"  he  called  out,  his  mouth  within  three  feet 
of  my  ear — "  she  jumps  about  like  a  whale  with  a  harpoon 
in  it !  I  've  been  afraid  she  'd  jerk  the  stem  out  of  her." 

"  Not  much  fear  of  that,  Moses — my  great  concern  is 
that  starboard  bower-cable ;  it  has  a  good  deal  more  strain 
on  it  than  the  larboard,  and  you  can  see  how  the  strands 
are  stretched." 

"  Ay,  ay — 't  is  generalizing  its  strength,  as  one  may  say. 
S'pose  we  clap  the  helm  a-port,  and  try  the  effects  of  a 
sheer?" 

"  I  've  thought  of  that ;  as  there  is  a  strong  tide  going,  it 
may  possibly  answer" — 

These  words  were  scarcely  out  of  my  mouth,  when  three 
seas  of  enormous  height  came  rolling  down  upon  us,  like 
three  great  roistering  companions  in  a  crowd  of  sullen 
men,  the  first  of  which  raised  the  Dawn's  bows  so  high  in 
the  air,  as  to  cause  us  both  to  watch  the  rosult  in  breathless 
silence.  The  plunge  into  the  trough  was  in  a  just  propor 
tion  to  the  toss  into  the  air;  and  I  felt  a  surge,  as  if  some 
thing  gave  way  under  the  violent  strain  that  succeeded.  The 


286  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

torrent  of  water  that  came  on  the  forecastle  prevented  any 
thing  from  being  seen  ;  but  again  the  bows  rose,  again  they 
sunk,  and  then  the  ship  seemed  easier. 

"  We  are  all  adrift,  Miles  !"  Marble  shouted,  leaning  for 
ward  to  be  heard.  "  Both  bowers  have  snapped  like  thread, 
and  here  we  go,  head-foremost,  in  for  the  land !" 

All  this  was  true  enough !  The  cables  had  parted,  and 
the  ship's  head  was  falling  off  fast  from  the  gale,  like  the 
steed  that  has  slipped  his  bridle,  before  he  commences  his 
furious  and  headlong  career.  I  looked  round  for  the  ne 
groes  ;  but  Neb  was  already  at  the  wheel.  That  noble  fel 
low,  true  as  steel,  had  perceived  the  accident  as  soon  as  any 
of  us,  and  he  sprang  to  the  very  part  of  the  vessel  where 
he  was  most  needed.  He  had  a  seaman's  faculties  in  per 
fection,  though  ratiocination  was  certainly  not  his  forte.  A 
motion  of  my  hand  ordered  him  to  put  the  helm  hard  up,  and 
the  answering  sign  let  me  know  that  I  was  obeyed.  We  could 
do  no  more  just  then,  but  the  result  was  awaited  in  awful 
expectation. 

The  Dawn's  bows  fell  off  until  the  ship  lay  broadside  to 
the  gale,  which  made  her  reel  until  her  lee  lower  yard-arms 
nearly  dipped.  Then  she  overcame  the  cauldron  of  water 
that  was  boiling  around  her,  and  began  to  draw  heavily 
ahead.  Three  seas  swept  athwart  her  decks,  before  she 
minded  her  helm  in  the  least,  carrying  with  them  every 
thing  that  was  not  most  firmly  lashed,  or  which  had  not 
animal  life  to  direct  its  movements,  away  to  leeward.  They 
swept  off  the  hen-coops,  and  ripped  four  or  five  water-casks 
from  their  lashings,  even,  as  if  the  latter  had  been  pack 
thread.  The  cam  boose-house  went  also,  at  the  last  of  these 
terrific  seas ;  and  nothing  saved  the  camboose  itself,  but  its 
great  weight,  added  to  the  strength  of  its  fastenings.  In  a 
word,  little  was  left,  that  could  very  well  go,  but  the  launch, 
the  gripes  of  which  fortunately  held  on. 

By  the  time  this  desolation  was  completed,  the  ship  began 
to  fall  off,  and  her  movement  through  the  water  became 
very  perceptible.  At  first,  she  dashed  in  toward  the  land, 
running,  I  make  no  doubt,  quite  half  a  mile  obliquely  in 
that  direction,  ere  she  got  fairly  before  the  wind  :  a  course 
which  carried  her  nearly  in  a  line  with  the  coast.  Marble 
onrl  myself  now  got  aft  without  much  trouble,  and  put  the 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  267 

helm  a  little  to  starboard,  with  a  view  to  edge  off  to  the  pass 
age  as  far  as  possible.  The  wind  blew  so  nearly  down 
channel,  that  there  would  have  been  no  immediate  danger, 
had  we  an  offing ;  but  the  ship  had  not  driven  before  the 
gale  more  than  three  or  four  hours,  when  we  made  land 
ahead ;  the  coast  trending  in  this  part  of  the  island  nearly 
north  and  south.  Marble  suggested  the  prudence  of  taking 
time  by  the  forelock,  and  of  getting  the  main-top-sail  on  the 
ship,  to  force  her  off  the  land,  the  coast  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Dublin  lying  under  our  lee-bow.  We  had  taken  the  pre 
caution  to  close-reef  everything  before  it  was  furled,  and  I 
went  aloft  myself  to  lower  this  sail.  If  I  had  formed  a  very 
respectful  opinion  of  the  power  of  the  gale,  while  on  deck, 
that  opinion  was  materially  heightened  when  I  came  to  feel 
its  gusts,  on  the  main-top-sail-yard.  It  was  not  an  easy 
matter  to  hold  on  at  all ;  and  to  work,  required  great  readi 
ness  and  strength.  Nevertheless,  I  got  the  sail  loose,  and 
then  I  went  down  and  aided  Marble  and  the  cook  to  drag 
home  the  sheets.  Home,  they  could  not  be  dragged  by  us, 
notwithstanding  we  got  up  a  luff;  but  we  made  the  sail  stand 
reasonably  well. 

The  ship  immediately  felt  the  effect  of  even  this  rag  of 
canvass.  She  drove  ahead  at  a  prodigious  rate,  running,  I 
make  no  question,  some  eleven  or  twelve  knots,  under  the 
united  power  collected  by  her  hamper  and  this  one  fragment 
of  a  sail.  Her  drift  was  unavoidably  great,  and  I  thought 
the  current  sucked  her  in  towards  the  land ;  but,  on  the 
whole,  she  kept  at  about  the  same  distance  from  the  shore, 
foaming  along  it,  much  as  we  had  seen  the  frigate  do,  the 
day  before.  At  the  rate  we  were  going,  twelve  or  fifteen 
hours  would  carry  us  down  to  the  passage  between  Holy 
Head  and  Ireland,  when  we  should  get  more  sea-room,  on 
account  of  the  land's  trending  again  to  the  westward. 

Long,  long  hours  did  Marble  and  I  watch  the  progress 
of  our  ship  that  day  and  the  succeeding  night,  each  of  us 
taking  our  tricks  at  the  wheel,  and  doing  seaman's  duty,  as 
well  as  that  of  mate  and  master.  All  this  time,  the  vessel 
was  dashing  furiously  out  towards'  the  Atlantic,  which  she 
reached  ere  the  morning  of  the  succeeding  day.  Just  before 
he  light  returned  we  were  whirled  past  a  large  ship  that 
was  lying-to,  under  a  single  storm-stay-sail,  and  which  I 


288  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

recognised  as  the  frigate  that  had  taken  a  look  at  us  at  our 
anchorage.  The  cutter  was  close  at  hand,  and  the  fearful 
manner  in  which  these  two  strong-handed  vessels  pitched 
and  lurched,  gave  me  some  idea  of  what  musi  be  our  situa 
tion,  should  we  be  compelled  to  luff  to  the  wind.  I  supposed 
they  had  done  so,  in  order  to  keep  as  long  as  possible,  on 
their  cruising  ground,  near  the  chops  of  the  Irish  channel. 

A  wild  scene  lay  around  us,  at  the  return  of  light.  The 
Atlantic  resembled  a  chaos  of  waters,  the  portions  of  the 
rolling  sheet  that  were  not  white  with  foam,  looking  green 
and  angry.  The  clouds  hid  the  sun,  and  the  gale  seemed 
to  be  fast  coming  to  its  height.  At  ten,  we  drove  past  an 
American,  with  nothing  standing  but  his  foremast.  Like 
us,  he  was  running  off,  though  we  went  three  feet  to  his 
two.  Half  an  hour  later,  we  had  the  awful  sight  before  our 
eyes  of  witnessing  the  sudden  disappearance  of  an  English 
brig.  She  was  lying-to,  directly  on  our  course,  and  I  was 
looking  at  her  from  the  windlass,  trying  to  form  some 
opinion  as  to  the  expediency  of  our  luffing-to,  in  order  to 
held  our  own.  Of  a  sudden,  this  brig  gave  a  plunge,  and 
she  went  down  like  a  porpoise  diving.  What  caused  this 
disaster  I  never  knew ;  but,  in  five  minutes  we  passed  as 
near  as  possible  over  the  spot,  and  not  a  trace  of  her  was 
to  be  seen.  I  could  not  discover  so  much  as  a  handspike 
floating,  though  I  looked  with  intense  anxiety,  in  the  hope 
of  picking  up  some  fellow-creature  clinging  to  a  spar.  As 
for  stopping  to  examine,  one  who  did  not  understand  the 
language  might  as  well  hope  to  read  the  German  character 
on  a  mile-stone,  while  flying  past  it  in  a  rail-road  car. 

At  noon,  precisely,  away  went  our  fore-top-sail  out  of  the 
gaskets.  One  fastening  snapped  after  another,  until  the 
whole  sail  was  adrift.  The  tugs  that  this  large  sheet  of 
canvass  gave  upon  the  spars,  as  it  shook  in  the  wind,  threat 
ened  to  jerk  the  foremast  out  of  the  ship.  They  lasted  about 
three  minutes,  when,  after  a  report  almost  as  loud  as  that 
of  a  small  piece  of  ordnance,  the  sail  split  in  ribands.  Ten 
minutes  later,  our  main-top-sail  went.  This  sail  left  us  as 
it  might  be  bodily,  and  I  actually  thought  that  a  gun  of  dis 
tress  was  fired  near  us,  by  some  vessel  that  was  unseen. 
The  bolt-rope  was  left  set ;  the  sheets,  earings,  and  reef 
points  all  holding  on,  the  cloth  tearing  at  a  single  rent 


MILES   WALLINGFORD.  289 

around  the  four  sides  of  the  sail.  The  scene  that  followed 
I  scarcely  know  how  to  describe.  The  torn  part  of  the 
main-top-sail  flew  forward,  and  caught  in  the  after-part  of 
the  fore-top,  where  it  stood  spread,  as  one  might  say,  held 
by  the  top,  cat-harpins,  rigging,  and  other  obstacles.  This 
was  the  feather  to  break  the  camel's  back.  Bolt  after  bolt 
of  the  fore-rigging  drew  or  broke,  each  parting  with  a  loud 
report,  and  away  went  everything  belonging  to  the  foremast 
over  the  bows,  from  the  deck  up.  The  main-top-mast  was 
dragged  down  by  this  fearful  pull,  and  that  brought  the 
mizen-top-gallant-mast  after  it.  The  pitching  of  so  much 
hamper  under  the  bows  of  the  ship,  while  her  after-masts 
stood,  threw  the  stern  round,  in  spite  of  the  manner  in  which 
Marble  steered ;  and  the  ship  broached-to.  In  doing  this, 
the  sea  made  a  fair  breach  over  her,  sweeping  the  deck  of 
•even  the  launch  and  camboose,  and  carrying  all  the  lee- 
bulwarks,  in  the  waist,  with  them.  Neb  was  in  the  launch 
at  the  time,  hunting  for  some  article  kept  there ;  and  the  last 
I  saw  of  the  poor  fellow,  he  was  standing  erect  in  the  bows 
of  the  boat,  as  the  latter  drove  over  the  vessel's  side,  on  the 
summit  of  a  wave,  like  a  bubble  floating  in  a  furious  cur 
rent.  Diogenes,  it  seems,  had  that  moment  gone  to  his 
camboose,  to  look  after  the  plain  dinner  he  was  trying  to 
boil,  when  probably  seizing  the  iron  as  the  most  solid  object 
near  him,  he  was  carried  overboard  with  it,  and  never  re 
appeared.  Marble  was  in  a  tolerably  safe  part  of  the  vessel, 
at  the  wheel,  and  he  kept  his  feet,  though  the  water  rose 
above  his  waist ;  as  high,  indeed,  as  his  arms.  As  for  my 
self,  I  was  saved  only  by  the  main-rigging,  into  which  I  was 
driven,  and  where  I  lodged. 

I  could  not  but  admire  the  coolness  and  conduct  of  Mar 
ble  even  at  that  terrific  moment!  In  the  first  place,  he 
put  the  helm  hard  down,  and  lashed  the  wheel,  the  wisest 
thing  that  could  be  done  by  men  in,  our  situation.  This  he 
did  by  means  of  that  nautical  \nstinct,  which  enables  a  sea 
man  to  act,  in  the  direst  emergencies,  almost  without  reflec 
tion,  or,  as  one  closes  his  eyes  to  avoid  danger  to  the  pupils. 
Then  he  gave  one  glance  at  the  state  of  things  in-board, 
running  forward  with  the  end  of  a  rope  to  throw  to  Diogenes, 
should  the  cook  rise  near  the  ship.  By  the  time  he  was 
satisfied  the  hope  of  doing  anything  in  that  way,  was  vain, 
25 


'290  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

I  was  on  deck,  and  we  two  stood  facing  each  other,  in  the 
midst  of  the  scene  of  desolation  and  ruin  that  was  around 
us.  Marble  caught  my  hand  with  a  look  that  spoke  as 
plainly  as  words.  It  told  me  the  joy  he  felt  at  seeing  I  was 
spared,  his  determination  to  stick  by  me  to  the  last ;  yet, 
how  low  were  his  hopes  of  ultimate  preservation !"  It  was 
such  a  look  as  any  man  would  be  glad  to  receive  from  a 
comrade  in  the  heat  of  battle ;  nevertheless,  it  was  not  a  look 
that  promised  victory. 

The  situation  of  the  ship  would  now  have  been  much  bet 
ter  than  it  had  been,  in  many  respects,  were  it  not  for  the 
wreck.  All  the  masts  forward  had  gone  over  the  lee  bow, 
and  would  have  lain  in  a  sufficiently  favourable  situation 
for  a  strong  crew  to  get  rid  of  them ;  but  in  our  case  we 
were  compelled  to  let  things  take  their  course.  It  is  true, 
we  could  cut  away,  and  this  we  began  to  do  pretty  freely, 
but  the  lower-end  of  the  fore-mast  lay  on  the  forecastle, 
where  it  was  grinding  everything  near  it  to  pieces,  with 
the  heaving  and  setting  of  the  waves.  All  the  bulwarks  in 
that  part  of  the  ship  threatened  soon  to  be  beaten  down,  and 
I  felt  afraid  the  cathead  would  be  torn  violently  out  of  the 
ship,  leaving  a  bad  leak.  Leaks  enough  there  were,  as  it 
was.  The  launch,  camboose,  water-casks,  and  spare  spars,  in 
driving  overboard,  having  forced  out  timber-heads,  and 
other  supports,  in  a  way  to  split  the  plank  sheer,  which  let  in 
the  water  fast,  every  time  the  lee  gunwale  went  under.  I 
gave  up  my  sugars  and  coffees  from  the  first,  bringing  my 
hopes  down  as  low  as  the  saving  of  the  ship,  the  instant  I 
saw  the  state  of  the  upper  works. 

Marble  and  I  had  not  been  educated  in  a  school  that  is 
apt  to  despair.  As  for  my  mate,  had  he  found  himself  on 
a  plank  in  the  middle  of  the  Atlantic,  I  do  believe  he  would 
have  set  about  rigging  a  jury-mast,  by  splitting  off  a  piece 
of  the  hull  of  his  craft  and  spreading  his  shirt  by  way  of 
sail.  I  never  knew  a  more  in-and-in-bred  seaman,  who, 
when  one  resource  failed,  invariably  set  about  the  next  best 
visible  expedient.  We  were  at  a  loss,  however,  whether  to 
make  an  effort  to  get  rid  of  the  foremast,  or  not.  With 
the  exception  of  the  damages  it  did  on  the  forecastle,  it  was 
of  use  to  us,  keeping  the  ship's  bow  up  to  the  wind,  and 
making  better  weather  for  us,  on  deck.  The  after-masts 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  291 

standing,  while  those  forward  were  gone,  had  the  effect  to 
press  the  stern  of  the  vessel  to  leeward,  while  this  support 
in  the  water  prevented  her  bows  from  falling  off,  and  we 
rode  much  nearer  to  the  wind,  than  is  usual  with  a  ship 
that  is  lying-to.  It  is  true,  the  outer  end  of  the  fallen  spars 
began  to  drive  to  leeward ;  and,  acting  as  a  long  lever, 
they  were  gradually  working  the  broken  end  of  the  fore 
mast  athwart  the  forecastle,  ripping  and  tearing  away  every 
thing  on  the  gunwale,  and  threatening  the  foot  of  the  main 
stay.  This  made  it  desirable  to  be  rid  of  the  wreck,  while 
on  the  other  hand,  there  was  the  danger  of  the  ship's  bot 
tom  beating  against  the  end  of  the  mast,  did  the  latter  get 
overboard.  Under  all  these  circumstances,  however,  we 
determined  to  cut  as  much  of  the  gear  as  possible,  and  let 
the  fallen  spars  work  themselves  clear  of  us,  if  they  could. 
Our  job  was  by  no  means  easy.  It  was  difficult  to  stand, 
even,  on  the  deck  of  the  Dawn,  in  a  time  like  that ;  and 
this  difficulty  was  greatly  increased  forward,  by  having  so 
little  to  hold  on  by.  But  work  we  did,  and  in  a  way  that 
cleared  most  of  the  rigging  from  the  ship,  in  the  course  of 
the  next  half  hour.  We  were  encouraged  by  the  appear 
ances  of  the  weather  too,  the  gale  having  broken,  and  pro 
mising  to  abate.  The  ship  grew  a  little  easier,  I  thought, 
and  we  moved  about  with  more  confidence  of  not  being 
washed  away  by  the  seas  that  came  on  board  us.  After  a 
time,  we  took  some  refreshments,  eating  the  remains  of  a 
former  meal,  and  cheered  our  hearts  a  little  with  a  glass  or 
two  of  good  Sherry.  Temperance  may  be  very  useful,  but 
so  is  a  glass  of  good  wine,  when  properly  used.  Then  we 
went  at  it,  again,  working  with  a  will  and  with  spirit.  The 
wreck  aft  wanted  very  little  to  carry  it  over  the  side,  and 
going  aloft  with  an  axe,  I  watched  my  opportunity,  cut  one 
or  two  of  the  shrouds  and  stays,  just  as  the  ship  lurched 
heavily  to  leeward,  and  got  rid  of  the  whole  in  the  sea,  hand 
somely,  without  further  injury  to  the  ship.  This  was  a 
good  deliverance,  the  manner  in  which  the  spars  had  thresh 
ed  about,  having  menaced  our  lives,  before.  We  now  at 
tacked  the  wreck  forward,  for  the  last  time,  feeling  certain 
we  should  get  it  adrift,  could  we  sever  the  connection  formed 
by  one  or  two  of  the  larger  ropes.  The  lee-shrouds,  in  par 
ticular,  gave  us  trouble,  it  being  impossible  to  get  at  them, 


MILES 

inboard,  the  fore  channels  being  half  the  time  under  water, 
and  the  bulwarks  in  their  wake  being  all  gone.  It  was,  in 
fact,  impossible  to  stand  there  to  work  long  enough  to  clear, 
or  cut,  all  the  lanyards.  Marble  was  an  adventurous  fellow 
aloft,  on  all  occasions ;  and  seeing  good  footing  about  the 
top,  without  saying  a  word  to  me,  he  seized  an  axe,  and 
literally  ran  out  on  the  mast,  where  he  began  to  cut  the  col* 
lars  of  the  rigging  at  the  mast-head.  This  was  soon  done ; 
but  the  spars  were  no  sooner  clear,  than,  impelled  by  a 
wave  that  nearly  drowned  the  mate,  the  end  of  the  foremast 
slid  off  the  forecastle  into  the  sea,  leaving  the  ship  virtu- 
ally  clear  of  the  wreck,  but  my  mate  adrift  on  the  last ;  I 
say  virtually  clear,  for  the  lee  fore-top-sail-brace  still  re 
mained  fast  to  the  ship,  by  some  oversight  in  clearing  away 
the  smaller  ropes.  The  effect  of  this  restraint  was  to  cause 
the  whole  body  of  the  wreck  to  swing  slowly  round,  until  it 
rode  by  this  rope,  alone. 

Here  was  a  new  and  a  most  serious  state  of  things !  I 
knew  that  my  mate  would  do  all  that  man  could  perform, 
situated  as  he  was,  but  what  man  could  swim  against  such 
a  sea,  even  the  short  distance  that  interposed  between  the 
spars  and  the  ship  ?  The  point  of  the  wreck  nearest  the 
vessel,  was  the  end  of  the  top-sail-yard,  to  which  the  brace 
led,  and  this  was  raised  from  the  water  by  the  strain  (the 
other  end  of  the  brace  leading  aloft),  fathoms  at  a  time,  ren 
dering  it  extremely  difficult  for  Marble  to  reach  the  rope,  by 
means  of  which  I  could  now  see,  notwithstanding  all  the 
difficulties,  he  hoped  to  regain  the  vessel.  The  voice  could 
be  heard  by  one  directly  to  leeward,  the  howling  of  the 
winds  and  the  roar  of  the  waters  having  materially  lessened 
within  the  last  few  hours.  I  shouted  to  Marble,  therefore, 
my  intentions — 

"  Stand  by  to  get  the  brace  as  I  ease  it  off,  inboard,"  I 
cried  ;  "  then  you  will  be  safe  !" 

The  mate  understood  rne,  giving  a  gesture  of  assent  with 
his  arm.  When  both  were  ready,  I  eased  off  the  rope  sud- 
denlv,  and  Marble,  partly  by  crawling,  and  partly  by  float 
ing  and  dragging  himself  by  the  hands,  actually  got  to  the 
yard-arm,  which  was  immediately  raised  from  the  water, 
however,  by  the  drift  made  by  the  spars,  while  he  was 
achieving  his  object,  f  trembled  as  I  saw  this  stout  seaman, 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  293 

the  water  dripping  from  his  clothes,  thus  elevated  in  the  air, 
with  the  angry  billows  rolling  beneath  him,  like  lions  leap 
ing  upward  to  catch  the  adventurer  in  their  grasp.  Mar 
ble's  hand  was  actually  extended  to  reach  the  brace,  when 
its  block  gave  way  with  the  strain.  The  eye  of  the  strap 
slipping  from  the  yard,  down  went  the  spar  into  the  water. 
Next  the  trough  of  the  sea  hid  everything  from  my  sight, 
and  I  was  left  in  the  most  painful  doubt  of  the  result,  when 
I  perceived  the  mate  lashing  himself  to  the  top,  as  the  por 
tion  of  the  wreck  that  floated  the  most  buoyantly.  He  had 
managed  to  get  in  again,  and  coolly  went  to  work  to  secure 
himself  in  the  best  berth  he  could  find,  the  instant  he  re 
gained  the  main  mass  of  the  wreck.  As  he  rose  on  the 
crest  of  a  sea,  the  poor  fellow  made  a  gesture  of  adieu  to 
me ;  the  leave-taking  of  the  mariner  ! 

In  this  manner  did  it  please  Divine  Providence  to  separate 
us  four,  who  had  already  gone  through  so  much  in  com 
pany !  With  what  moody  melancholy  did  I  watch  the 
wreck,  as  it  slowly  drifted  from  the  ship.  I  no  longer 
thought  of  making  further  efforts  to  save  the  Dawn,  and  I 
can  truly  say,  that  scarce  a  thought  in  connection  with  my 
own  life,  crossed  my  mind.  There  I  stood  for  quite  an  hour, 
leaning  against  the  foot  of  the  mizen-mast,  with  folded  arms 
and  riveted  eyes,  regardless  of  the  pitches,  and  lurches,  and 
rolling  of  the  ship,  with  all  my  faculties  and  thoughts  fast 
ened  on  the  form  of  Marble,  expecting  each  time  that  the 
top  rose  to  view  to  find  it  empty.  He  was  too  securely 
lashed,  however,  to  strike  adrift,  though  he  was  nearly  half 
the  time  under  water.  It  was  impossible  to  do  anything  to 
save  him.  No  boat  was  left ;  had  there  been  one,  it  could 
not  have  lived,  nor  could  I  have  managed  it  alone.  Spars 
he  had  already,  but  what  must  become  of  him  without  food 
or  water  ?  I  threw  two  breakers  of  the  last  into  the  sea, 
and  a  box  of  bread,  in  a  sort  of  idle  hope  they  might  drift 
down  near  the  wreck,  and  help  to  prolong  the  sufferer's  life. 
They  were  all  tossed  about  in  the  cauldron  of  the  ocean, 
and  disappeared  to  leeward,  I  knew  not  whither.  When 
Marble  was  no  longer  visible  from  deck,  I  went  into  the 
main-top  and  watched  the  mass  of  spars  and  rigging,  so 
long  as  any  portion  of  it  could  be  seen.  Then  I  set  it  by 
compass,  in  order  to  know  its  bearing,  and  an  hour  before 
25* 


294  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

the  sun  went  down,  or  as  soon  as  the  diminished  power  of 
the  wind  would  permit,  I  showed  an  ensign  aloft,  as  a  signal 
that  I  bore  my  mate  in  mind. 

"  He  knows  I  will  not  desert  him  as  long  as  there  is  hope 
—so  long  as  I  have  life !"  I  muttered  to  myself;  and  this 
thought  was  a  relief  to  my  mind,  in  that  bitter  moment. 

Bitter  moment,  truly !  Time  has  scarcely  lessened  the 
keenness  of  the  sensations  I  endured,  as  memory  traces  the 
feelings  and  incidents  of  that  day.  From  the  hour  when  I 
sailed  from  home,  Lucy's  image  was  seldom  absent  from  my 
imagination,  ten  minutes  at  a  time ;  I  thought  of  her,  sleep 
ing  and  waking;  in  all  my  troubles;  the  interest  of  the  sea- 
fight  I  had  seen  could  not  prevent  this  recurrence  of  my 
ideas  to  their  polar  star,  their  powerful  magnet ;  but  I  do 
not  remember  to  have  thought  of  Lucy,  even,  once  after 
Marble  was  thus  carried  away  from  my  side.  Neb,  too, 
with  his  patient  servitude,  his  virtues,  his  faults,  his  daunt 
less  courage,  his  unbounded  devotion  to  myself,  had  taken 
a  strong  hold  on  my  heart,  and  his  loss  had  greatly  troubled 
me,  since  the  time  it  occurred.  But  I  remember  to  have 
thought  much  of  Lucy,  even  after  Neb  was  swept  away, 
though  her  image  became  temporarily  lost  to  my  mind, 
during  the  first  few  hours  I  was  thus  separated  from  Marble. 

By  the  time  the  sun  set,  the  wind  had  so  far  abated,  and 
the  sea  had  gone  down  so  much,  as  to  remove  all  further 
apprehensions  from  the  gale.  The  ship  lay-to  easily,  and 
I  had  no  occasion  to  give  myself  any  trouble  on  her  ac 
count.  Had  there  been  light,  I  should  now  have  put  the 
helm  up,  and  run  to  leeward,  in  the  hope  of  finding  the 
spars,  and  at  least  of  keeping  near  Marble  ;  but,  fearful  of 
passing  him  in  the  darkness,  I  deferred  that  duty  until  the 
morning.  All  I  could  do  was  to  watch  the  weather,  in  order 
to  make  this  effort,  before  the  wind  should  shift. 

What  a  night  I  passed  !  As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  I  sound 
ed  the  pumps,  and  found  six  feet  water  in  the  hold.  It  was 
idle  for  one  man  to  attempt  clearing  a  vessel  of  the  Dawn's 
size;  and  I  gave  myself  no  further  thought  in  the  matter. 
So  much  injury  had  been  done  the  upper  works  of  the  ship, 
that  I  had  a  sort  of  conviction  she  must  go  down,  unless 
fallen  in  with  by  some  other  craft.  I  cannot  say  apprehen 
sion  for  my  own  fate  troubled  me  any,  or  that  I  thought  of 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  295 

the  ruin  to  my  fortunes  that  was  involved  in  the  loss  of  tho 
ship.  My  mind  reverted  constantly  to  my  companions; 
could  I  have  recovered  them,  I  should  have  been  happy,  for 
a  time,  at  least. 

I  slept  two  or  three  hours,  towards  morning,  overcome 
with  fatigue.  When  I  awoke,  it  was  in  consequence  of  re 
ceiving  the  sun's  rays  in  my  face.  Springing  to  my  feet, 
I  cast  a  confused  and  hurried  glance  around  me.  The  wind 
was  still  at  north-east,  but  it  barely  blew  a  good  whole-sail 
breeze.  The  sea  had  gone  down,  to  the  regular  roll  of  the 
ocean ;  and  a  finer  day  never  shone  upon  the  Atlantic.  I 
hurried  eagerly  on  deck,  and  gazed  on  the  ocean  to  leeward, 
with  longing  eyes,  to  ascertain  if  anything  could  be  seen  of 
the  wreck  of  our  spars.  Nothing  was  visible.  From  the 
main-top,  T  could  command  a  pretty  wide  horizon  ;  but  the 
ocean  lay  a  bright,  glittering  blank,  the  crests  of  its  own 
waves  excepted.  I  felt  certain  the  Dawn  was  so  weatherly, 
that  the  spars  were  to  leeward ;  but  the  ship  must  have 
forged  miles  ahead,  during  the  last  twelve  hours ;  and  there 
was  almost  the  equal  certainty  of  her  being  a  long  distance 
to  the  southward  of  the  floating  hamper,  her  head  having 
lain  in  that  direction  since  the  time  she  broached-to.  To 
get  her  off  before  the  wind,  then,  was  my  first  concern,  after 
which  I  could  endeavour  to  force  her  to  the  northward,  run 
ning  the  chance  of  falling  in  with  the  spars.  Could  I  find 
my  mate,  we  might  still  die  together,  which  would  have 
been  a  melancholy  consolation  just  then. 


206  MILES     WALLINGFORD.. 

CHAPTER  XXIL 

Father  of  aB!     In  every  age, 

In  every  clinic,  adored  ; 
By  saint,  by  savage,  or  by  sage — 

Jehovah !  Jove  I  ®r  Lord ! 

Port 

FEELING  the  necessity  of  possessing  all  my  strength,  I 
ate  a  breakfast  before  I  commenced  work.  It  was  with  a 
heavy  heart,  and  but  little  appetite,  that  I  took  this  solitary 
meal ;  but  I  felt  that  its  effects  were  good.  When  finished, 
I  knelt  on  the  deck,  and  prayed  to  God,  fervently,  asking 
his  divine  assistance  in  my  extremity.  Why  should  an  old 
man,  whose  race  is  nearly  run,  hesitate  to  own,  that  in  the 
pride  of  his  youth  and  strength,  he  was  made  to  feel  how 
insufficient  we  all  are  for  oar  wants  1  Yes,  I  payed ;  and 
I  hope  in  a  fitting  spirit,  for  I  felt  that  this  spiritual  suste^ 
nance  did  me  even  more  good  than  the  material  of  which  I 
had  just  before  partaken.  When  I  rose  from  my  knees,  it 
was  with  a  sease  of  hope,  that  I  endeavoured  to  suppress  a 
little,  as  both  unreasonable  and  dangerous.  Perhaps  the 
spirit  of  my  sainted  sister  was  permitted  to  look  down  on, 
me,  in  that  awful  strait,  and  to  offer  up  its  own  pure  petitions 
in  behalf  of  a  brother  she  had  so  warmly  loved.  1  began 
to  feel  myself  less  alone,  and  the  work  advanced  the  belief 
from  Ihis  mysterious  sort  of  consciousness  of  the  presence 
of  the  souls  of  those  who  had  felt  an  interest  in  me,  while 
in  the  body. 

My  first  measure  was  to  lead  the  jib-stay,  which  had  parted 
near  the  head  of  its  own  mast,  to  the  head  of  the  main 
mast.  This  I  did  by  bending  on  a  piece  of  another  rope.  I 
tken  got  up  the  halyards,  and  loosened  and  set  the  jib ;  a 
job  that  consumed  quite  two  hours.  Of  course,  this  sail  did 
not  set  very  well,  but  it  was  the  only  mode  I  had  c-f  getting 
forward  canvass  on  the  ship  at  all.  As  soon  as  the  jib  was 
set,  in  this  imperfect  manner,  I  put  the  helm  up,  and  got  the 
ship  before  the  wind.  I  then  hauled  out  the  spanker,  and 
gave  it  sheet.  By  these  means,  aided  by  the  action  of  the 
breeze  on  the  hull  and'  spars,  I  succeeded  in  getting  some 
thing  like  three  knots'  way  on  the  ship,  keeping  off  a  little 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  297 

northerly,  in  which  direction  I  felt  sensible  it  was  necessary 
to  proceed  in  quest  of  the  spars.  I  estimated  the  drift  of 
the  wreck  at  a  knot  an  hour,  including  the  good  and  mode 
rate  weather;  and,  allowing  for  that  of  the  ship  itself,  I 
supposed  it  must  be,  by  that  time,  some  twelve  miles  to  lee 
ward  of  me.  These  twelve  miles  I  managed  to  run  by 
noon,  when  I  hauled  up  sufficiently  to  bring  the  wind  abeam, 
heading  northwardly.  As  the  ship  would  now  steer  herself, 
that  is  as  small  as  it  was  necessary  for  me  to  go,  I  collected 
some  food,  took  a  glass,  and  went  up  into  the  main-lop,  to 
dine,  and  to  examine  the  ocean. 

The  anxious,  anxious  hours  I  passed  in  that  top !  Not 
an  object  of  any  sort  appeared  on  the  surface  of  the  wide 
ocean.  It  seemed  as  if  the  birds  and  the  fishes  had  aban 
doned  me  to  my  loneliness.  I  watched  and  examined  the 
surrounding  sea,  until  my  hands  were  tired  with  holding  the 
glass,  and  my  eyes  became  weary  with  their  office.  For 
tunately,  the  breeze  stood,  though  the  sea  went  down  fast ; 
giving  me  every  opportunity  I  could  desire  of  effecting  my 
object.  The  ship  yawed  about  a  good  deal,  it  is  true ;  but, 
on  the  whole,  she  made  a  very  tolerable  course.  I  could 
see  by  the  water  that  she  had  a  motion  of  about  two  knots, 
for  most  of  the  time;  though,  as  the  day  advanced,  the  wind 
began  to  fall,  and  her  rate  of  going  diminished  quite  one 
half. 

At  length,  after  passing  hours  aloft,  I  went  below,  to  look 
after  things  there.  On  sounding  the  pumps,  I  found  ten 
feet  water  in  the  hold ;  though  the  upper  works  were  now 
not  at  all  submerged,  and  the  motion  of  the  vessel  was  very 
easy.  That  the  Dawn  was  gradually  sinking  under  me,  was 
a  fact  too  evident  to  be  denied ;  and  all  the  concerns  of  this 
life  began  to  narrow  into  a  circle  of  some  four-and-twenty 
hours.  That  time  the  ship  would  probably  float, — possibly 
a  little  longer,  should  the  weather  continue  moderate.  The 
wind  was  decreasing  still,  and,  thinking  I  might  have  a 
tranquil  night,  I  determined  to  pass  that  time  in  preparing 
for  the  last  great  change.  I  had  no  will  to  make — little  to 
leave,  indeed,  after  my  vessel  was  gone :  for  the  debt  duo 
to  John  Wallingford  would  go  far  towards  absorbing  all  my 
property.  When  his  $40,000  were  paid,  under  a  forced 
sale,  little,  indeed,  would  be  the  residue. 


298  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

The  state  of  things  would  have  been  somewhat  different, 
under  a  fair  sale,  perhaps ;  but  a  forced  sale  would  proba 
bly  sweep  away  everything.  It  is  true  my  creditor  was  my 
heir ;  for,  a  legacy  to  Lucy  and  a  few  bequests  to  my  slaves 
excepted,  I  had  fairly  bequeathed  all  I  owned  to  my  cousin. 
As  for  the  blacks  themselves,  under  the  new  policy  of  New 
York,  they  would  soon  be  free ;  and  I  had  no  other  interest 
in  their  fate  than  that  of  habit  and  affection. 

But  why  speak  of  property,  in  the  situation  in  which  I 
was  placed  ?  Had  I  owned  the  whole  of  Ulster  county,  my 
wishes,  or  any  new  will  I  might  make,  must  die  with  me. 
The  ocean  would  soon  engulf  the  whole.  Had  I  no  desire 
to  make  an  effort  to  save  myself,  or  at  least  to  prolong  my 
existence,  by  means  of  a  raft? — of  boat,  there  was  none  in 
the  ship.  The  English  had  the  yawl,  and  the  launch  had 
toeen  driven  away.  The  spare  spars  were  swept  overboard, 
as  well  as  all  the  water-casks  that  had  been  lashed  on  deck. 
I  might  have  done  something  with  the  hatches,  and  mizen- 
top-mast,  possibly,  could  I  have  gotten  the  last  into  the 
water ;  but  the  expedient  was  so  desperate,  it  did  not  hold 
out  any  hopes  to  be  encouraged.  Even  the  handspikes  had 
gone  in  the  launch,  and  two  of  the  buoys  had  been  left  with 
the  anchors,  on  the  Irish  coast.  Under  all  the  circum 
stances,  it  appeared  to  me,  that  it  would  be  more  manly  and 
resigned,  to  meet  my  fate  at  once,  than  to  attempt  any  such 
feeble  projects  to  prolong  existence  for  a  few  hours.  I  came 
to  the  resolution,  therefore,  to  go  down  in  my  ship. 

What  was  there  to  make  life  particularly  dear  to  me? — 
My  home,  my  much-beloved  Clawbonny,  must  go,  at  all 
events ;  and  I  will  own  that  a  feeling  of  bitter  distrust 
crossed  my  mind,  as  I  thought  of  these  things,  and  that  I 
began  to  fancy  John  Wallingford  might  have  urged  me  to 
borrow  his  money,  expressly  to  obtain  a  chance  of  seizing 
an  estate  that  was  so  much  prized  by  every  Wallingford. 
I  suppressed  this  feeling,  however ;  and  in  a  clear  voice  I 
asfced  my  cousin's  pardon,  the  same  as  if  he  had  been 
within  hearing.  Of  Lucy,  I  had  no  longer  any  hope  ;— 
Grace  was  already  in  heaven  ;  and  the  world  contained  few 
that  cared  for  me.  After  Mr.  Hardinge,  Lucy  always  ex 
cepted,  I  now  loved  Marble  and  Neb  the  most ;  and  these 
two  were  probably  both  dead,  or  doomed,  like  myself.  We 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  299 

must  all  yield  up  our  lives  once,*  and,  though  my  houl 
came  rather  early,  it  should  be  met  as  a  man  meets  every 
thing,  even  to  death  itself. 

Some  time  before  the  sun  set,  I  went  aloft  to  take  a  last 
look  at  the  ocean.  I  do  not  think  any  desire  to  prolong  my 
existence  carried  me  up  the  mast,  but  there  was  a  lingering 
wish  to  look  after  my  mate.  The  ocean  beamed  gloriously 
that  eventide,  and  I  fancied  that  it  was  faintly  reflecting  the 
gracious  countenance  of  its  divine  Creator,  in  a  smile  of 
beneficent  love.  I  feit  my  heart  soften,  as  I  gazed  around 
me,  and  I  fancied  heavenly  music  was  singing  the  praises 
of  God,  on  the  face  of  the  great  deep.  Then  I  knelt  in  the 
top,  and  prayed. 

Rising,  I  looked  at  the  ocean,  as  I  supposed,  for  the  last 
time.  Not  a  sail  was  anywhere  to  be  seen.  I  cannot  say 
that  I  felt  disappointed ; — I  did  not  expect  relief  from  that 
quarter.  My  object  was,  to  fitad  tny  mate,  that  we  might 
die  together.  Slowly  I  raised  the  glass,  and  the  horizon 
was  swept  with  deliberation.  Nothing  appeared.  I  had 
shut  the  glass,  and  was  about  to  sling  it,  when  my  eye 
caught  the  appearance  of  something  floating  on  the  surface 
of  the  ocean,  within  a  mile  of  the  ship,  well  to  leeward,  and 
ahead.  I  had  overlooked  it,  in  consequence  of  ranging 
above  it  with  the  glass,  in  the  desire  to  sweep  the  horizon. 
I  could  not  be  mistaken :  it  was  the  wreck.  In  a  moment 
the  glass  was  levelled,  and  I  assured  myself  of  the  fact. 
The  top  was  plainly  visible,  floating  quite  high  above  the 
surface,  and  portions  of  the  yards  and  masts  were  occa 
sionally  seen,  as  the  undulations  of  the  ocean  left  them  bare. 
I  saw  an  object,  lying  motionless  across  the  top-rim,  which 
I  supposed  to  be  Marble.  He  was  either  dead  or  asleep. 

What  a  revulsion  of  feeling  came  over  me  at  this  sight ! 
A  minute  before,  and  I  was  completely  isolated;  cut  off 
from  the  rest  of  my  species,  and  resigned  to  a  fate  that 
seemed  to  command  my  quitting  this  state  of  being,  without 
further  communion  with  mankind.  Everything  was  changed. 
Here  was  the  companion  of  so  many  former  dangers,  the 
man  who  had  taught  me  my  profession,  one  that  I  can  truly 
say  I  loved,  quite  near  me,  and  possibly  dying  for  the  want 
of  that  aid  which  I  might  render !  I  was  on  deck  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye ;  the  sheets  were  eased  off,  and  the 


300  MILES     WALL  ING' FOR  XT. 

helm  put  up.  Obedient  to  my  wishes,  the  ship  fell  off,  and 
I  soon  got  a  glimpse,  from  the  spot  where  I  stood,  at  the 
wheel,  of  the  wreck  a  little  clear  of  the  weather  cat-head. 
By  this  time,  the  wind  was  so  light,  and  the  ship  had  got  to 
be  so  deep  in  the  water,  that  the  motion  of  the  last  was  very 
slow.  Even  with  the  helm  up,  it  scarce  equalled  half  a 
knot ;  I  began  to  fear  I  should  not  be  able  to  reach  my  goal, 
after  all ! 

There  were,  BOW,  intervals  of  dead  calm ;  then  the  air 
would  return  in  little  pu-ffs,  urging  the  great  mass  heavily 
onward.  I  whistled,  I  prayed,  I  called  aloud  for  wind ;  in 
short,  I  adopted  all  the  expedients  known,  from  that  of  the 
most  vulgar  nautical  superstition,  op  to  profound  petitions  to 
the  Father  of  Mercies.  I  presume  all  this  brought  no 
change,  though  the  passage  of  time  did.  About  half  an 
hour  before  the  SUB  dipped  into  the  ocean,  the  ship  was 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  wreck.  This  I  could  ascer 
tain  by  stolen  glances,  for  the  direction  I  was  now  compelled 
to  steer,  placed  the  forward  part  of  the  ship  between  me 
and  my  object^  aatS  I  di4  not  dare  quit  the  wheel  to  go  for 
ward,  lest  I  should  miss  it  altogether.  I  had  prepared  a 
grapnel,  by  placing  a  small  kedge  in  the  lee- waist,  with  a 
hawser  bent,  and,  could  I  come  within  a  few  feet  of  the 
floating  hamper,  I  fek  confident  of  being  able  to  hook  into 
something.  It  appeared  to  me,  now,  as  if  the  ship  abso 
lutely  refused  to  mo?e.  Go  ahead  she  did,  notwithstanding, 
though  it  was  only  her  own  length  in  five  or  six  minutes. 
My  hasty  glances  told  me  that  two  more  of  these  lengths 
would  effect  my  purpose.  I  scarce  breathed,  lest  the  vessel 
should  not  be  steered  with  sufficient  accuracy.  It  was  strange 
to  me  that  Marble  did  not  hail,  and,  fancying  him  asleep,  1 
shouted  with  all  my  energy,  in  order  to  arouse  him.  c  Whal 
a  joyful  sound  that  will  be  in  his  ears,'  I  thought  to  myself, 
though  to  me,  my  own  voice  seemed  unearthly  and  alarm 
ing.  No  answer  came.  Then  I  felt  a  slight  shock,  as  if 
the  cut-water  had  hit  something,  and  a  low  scraping  sound 
against  the  copper  announced  that  the  ship  had  hit  the 
wreck.  Quitting  the  wheel,  I  sprang  into  the  waist,  raising 
the  kedge  in  my  arms.  Then  came  the  upper  spars  wheel 
ing  strongly  round,  under  the  pressure  of  the  vessel's  bot 
tom  against  the  extremity  of  the  lower  mast.  I  saw  no- 


MILES     WALL1NOFORD.  301 

thing  but  the  great  maze  of  hamper  and  wreck,  and  could 
scarcely  breathe  in  the  anxiety  not  to  miss  my  aim.  There 
was  much  reason  to  fear  the  whole  mass  would  float  oft, 
leaving  me  no  chance  of  throwing  the  kedge,  for  the  smaller 
masts  no  longer  inclined  in,  and  I  could  see  that  the  ship 
and  wreck  were  slowly  separating.  A  low  thump  on  the 
bottom,  directly  beneath  me,  drew  my  head  over  the  side, 
and  I  found  the  fore-yard,  as  it  might  be,  a  cock-bill,  with 
one  end  actually  scraping  along  the  ship's  bottom.  It  was 
the  only  chance  I  had,  or  was  likely  to  have,  and  I  threw 
the  kedge  athwart  it.  Luckily,  the  hawser  as  it  tautened, 
brought  a  fluke  directly  under  the  yard,  within  the  Flemish 
horse,  the  brace-block,  and  all  the  other  ropes  that  are  fitted 
to  a  lower  yard-arm.  So  slow  was  the  motion  of  the  ship, 
that  my  grapnel  held,  and  the  entire  body  of  the  wreck  be 
gan  to  yield  to  the  pressure.  I  now  jumped  to  the  jib-hal 
yards  and  down-haul,  getting  that  sail  reduced  ;  then  I  half- 
brailed  the  spanker  ;  this  was  done  lest  my  hold  on  the  yard 
should  give  way. 

I  can  say,  that  up  to  this  instant,  I  had  not  even  looked 
for  Marble.  So  intense  had  been  my  apprehensions  of  miss 
ing  the  wreck,  that  I  thought  of  nothing  else,  could  see  no 
thing  else.  Satisfied,  however,  that  my  fast  would  hold, 
I  ran  forward  to  look  down  on  the  top,  that  the  strain  of  the 
hawser  had  brought  directly  under  the  very  bow,  over  which 
it  had  fallen.  It  was  empty  !  The  object  I  had  mistaken 
for  Marble,  dead  or  asleep,  was  a  part  of  the  bunt  of  the 
main-top-sail,  that  had  been  hauled  down  over  the  top-rim, 
and  secured  there,  either  to  form  a  sort  of  shelter  against 
the  breaking  seas,  or  a  bed.  Whatever  may  have  been  the 
intention  of  this  nest,  it  no  longer  had  an  occupant.  Marble 
had  probably  been  washed  away,  in  one  of  his  adventurous 
efforts  to  make  himself  more  secure  or  more  comfortable. 

The  disappointment  that  came  over  me,  as  I  ascertained 
this  fact,  was  scarcely  less  painful  than  the  anguish  I  had 
felt  when  I  first  saw  my  mate  carried  off  into  the  oceaa 
There  would  have  been  a  melancholy  satisfaction  in  finding 
his  body,  that  we  might  have  gone  to  the  bottom  together, 
at  least,  and  thus  have  slept  in  a  common  grave,  in  the 
depths  of  that  ocean  over  which  we  had  sailed  so  many 
thousands  of  leagues  in  company.  I  went  and  threw  my- 
26 


302  MILES     \VALLINOFORD. 

self  on  the  deck,  regardless  of  my  own  fate,  and  wept  in 
very  bitterness  of  heart.  I  had  arranged  a  mattress  on  the 
quarter-deck,  and  it  was  on  that  I  now  threw  myself.  Fa 
tigue  overcame  me,  in  the  end,  and  I  fell  into  a  deep  sleep. 
As  my  recollection  left  me,  my  last  thought  was  that  I 
should  go  down  with  the  ship,  as  I  lay  there.  So  complete 
was  the  triumph  of  nature,  that  I  did  not  even  dream.  I 
do  not  remember  ever  to  have  enjoyed  more  profound  and 
refreshing  slumbers ;  slumbers  that  continued  until  return 
ing  light  awoke  me.  To  that  night's  rest  I  am  probably 
indebted,  under  God,  for  having  the  means  of  relating  these 
adventures. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  the  night  had  been 
tranquil ;  otherwise,  a  seaman's  ears  would  have  given  him 
the  alarm.  When  I  arose,  I  found  the  ocean  glittering  like 
a  mirror,  with  no  other  motion  than  that  which  has  so  often 
been  likened  to  the  slumbering  respiration  of  some  huge 
animal.  The  wreck  was  thumping  against  the  ship's  bot 
tom,  announcing  its  presence,  before  I  left  the  mattress.  Of 
wind  there  was  literally  not  a  breath.  Once  in  a  while,  the 
ship  would  seem  to  come  up  to  breathe,  as  a  heavy  ground- 
swell  rolled  along  her  sides,  and  the  wash  of  the  element 
told  the  circumstance  of  such  a  visit ;  else,  all  was  as  still 
as  the  ocean  in  its  infancy.  I  knelt  again,  and  prayed  to 
that  dread  Being,  with  whom,  it  now  appeared  to  me,  I  stood 
alone,  in  the  centre  of  the  universe. 

Down  to  the  moment  when  I  arose  from  my  knees,  the 
thought  of  making  an  effort  to  save  myself,  or  to  try  to 
prolong  existence  a  few  hours,  by  means  of  the  wreck,  did 
not  occur  to  me.  But,  when  I  came  to  look  about  me,  to 
note  the  tranquil  condition  of  the  ocean,  and  to  heed  the 
chances,  small  as  they  were,  that  offered,  the  love  of  life 
was  renewed  within  me,  and  I  seriously  set  about  the  mea 
sures  necessary  to  such  an  end. 

The  first  step  was  to  sound  the  pumps,  anew.  The  water 
had  not  gained  in  the  night  as  rapidly  as  it  had  gained 
throughout  the  preceding  day.  But  it  had  gained ;  there 
being  three  feet  more  of  it  than  when  I  last  sounded — the 
infallible  evidence  of  the  existence  of  a  leak  that  no  means 
of  mine  could  stop.  It  was,  then,  hopeless  to  think  of  saving 
the  ship.  She  had  settled  in  the  water,  already,  so  as  to 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  303 

bring  the  lower  bolts  of  both  fore  and  main  channels  awash ; 
and  I  supposed  she  might  float  for  four-and-twenty  hours 
longer,  unless  an  injury  that  I  had  discovered  under  the  lar 
board  cat-head,  and  which  had  been  received  from  the  wreck, 
should  sooner  get  under  water.  It  appeared  to  me  that  a 
butt  had  been  started  there :  such  a  leak  would  certainly 
hasten  the  fate  of  the  vessel  by  some  hours,  should  it  come 
fairly  into  the  account. 

Having  made  this  calculation  as  to  the  time  I  had  to  do 
it  in,  I  set  seriously  about  the  job  of  making  provisions  with 
my  raft.  In  one  or  two  particulars,  I  could  not  much  im 
prove  the  latter ;  for,  the  yards  lying  underneath  the  masts, 
it  rendered  the  last  as  buoyant  as  was  desirable  in  moderate 
weather.  It  struck  me,  however,  that  by  getting  the  top 
gallant  and  royal  masts,  with  their  yards,  in,  around  the 
top,  I  might  rig  a  staging,  with  the  aid  of  the  hatches,  that 
would  not  only  keep  me  entirely  out  of  water,  in  mild  wea 
ther,  but  which  would  contain  all  one  man  could  consume, 
in  the  way  of  victuals  and  drink,  for  a  month  to  come.  To 
this  object,  then,  I  next  gave  my  attention. 

I  had  no  great  difficulty  in  getting  the  spars  I  have  men 
tioned,  loose,  and  in  hauling  them  alongside  of  the  top.  It 
was  a  job  that  required  time,  rather  than  strength ;  for  my 
movements  were  greatly  facilitated  by  the  presence  of  the 
top-mast  rigging,  which  remained  in  its  place,  almost  as 
taut  as  when  upright.  The  other  rigging  I  cut,  and  having 
got  out  the  fids  of  the  two  masts,  one  at  a  time,  I  pushed 
the  spars  through  their  respective  caps  with  a  foot.  Of 
course,  I  was  obliged  to  get  into  the  water  to  work ;  but  I 
had  thrown  aside  most  of  my  clothes  for  the  occasion,  and 
the  weather  being  warm,  I  felt  greatly  refreshed  with  my 
bath.  In  two  hours'  time,  I  had  my  top-gallant-mast  and 
yard  well  secured  to  the  top-rim  and  the  caps,  having  sawed 
them  in  pieces  for  the  purpose.  The  fastenings  were  both 
spikes  and  lashings,  the  carpenter's  stores  furnishing  plenty 
of  the  former,  as  well  as  all  sorts  of  tools. 

This  part  of  the  arrangement  completed,  I  ate  a  hearty 
breakfast,  when  I  began  to  secure  the  hatches,  as  a  sort  of 
floor,  on  my  primitive  joists.  This  was  not  difficult,  the 
hatches  being  long,  and  the  rings  enabling  me  to  lash  them, 
as  well  as  to  spike  them.  Long  before  the  sun  had  reached 


304  MILES     WALLINGPORD. 

the  meridian,  I  had  a  stout  little  platform,  that  was  quite 
eighteen  inches  above  the  water,  and  which  was  surrounded 
by  a  species  of  low  ridge-ropes,  so  placed  as  to  keep  articles 
from  readily  tumbling  off  it.  The  next  measure  was  to  cut 
all  the  sails  from  the  yards,  and  to  cut  loose  all  the  rigging 
and  iron  that  did  not  serve  to  keep  the  wreck  together.  The 
reader  can  easily  imagine  how  much  more  buoyancy  I  ob 
tained  by  these  expedients.  The  fore-sail  alone  weighed 
much  more  than  I  did  myself,  with  all  the  stores  I  might 
have  occasion  to  put  on  my  platform.  As  for  the  fore-top 
sail,  there  was  little  of  it  left,  the  canvass  having  mostly 
blown  from  the  yard,  before  the  mast  went. 

My  raft  was  completed  by  the  time  I  felt  the  want  of 
dinner ;  and  a  very  good  raft  it  was.  The  platform  was 
about  ten  feet  square,  and  it  now  floated  quite  two  feet  clear 
of  the  water.  This  was  not  much  for  a  sea ;  but,  after  the 
late  violent  gale,  I  had  some  reason  to  expect  a  continuation 
of  comparatively  good  weather.  I  should  not  have  been  a 
true  seaman  not  to  have  bethought  me  of  a  mast  and  a  sail. 
I  saved  the  fore-royal-mast,  and  the  yard,  with  its  canvass, 
for  such  a  purpose ;  determining  to  rig  them  when  I  had 
nothing  else  to  do.  I  then  ate  my  dinner,  which  consisted 
of  the  remnants  of  the  old  cold  meat  and  fowls  I  could  find 
among  the  cabin  eatables. 

This  meal  taken,  the  duty  that  came  next  was  to  pro 
vision  my  raft.  It  took  but  little  time  or  labour.  The  cabin 
stores  were  quite  accessible ;  and  a  bag  of  pilot-bread,  ano 
ther  of  that  peculiarly  American  invention,  called  crackers 
— some  smoked  beef,  a  case  of  liquors,  and  two  breakers 
of  water,  formed  my  principal  stock.  To  this  I  added  a 
pot  of  butter,  with  some  capital  smoked  herrings,  and  some 
anchovies.  We  lived  well  in  the  cabin  of  the  Dawn,  and 
there  was  no  difficulty  in  making  all  the  provision  that  six 
or  eight  men  would  have  needed  for  a  month.  Perceiving 
that  the  raft,  now  it  was  relieved  from  the  weight  of  the 
sails  and  rigging,  was  not  much  affected  by  the  stores,  I 
began  to  look  about  me  in  quest  of  anything  valuable  I 
might  wish  to  save.  The  preparations  I  had  been  making 
created  a  sort  of  confidence  in  their  success ;  a  confidence 
(hope  might  be  the  better  word)  that  was  as  natural,  per 
haps,  as  it  was  unreasonable.  I  examined  the  different 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  305 

objects  that  offered,  with  a  critical  comparison  of  their  value 
and  future  usefulness,  that  would  have  been  absurd,  had  ii 
not  afforded  a  melancholy  proof  of  the  tenacity  of  our 
desires  in  matters  of  this  nature.  It  is  certainly  a  sad 
thing  to  abandon  a  ship,  at  sea,  with  all  her  appliances,  and 
with  a  knowledge  of  the  gold  that  she  cost.  The  Dawn, 
with  her  cargo,  must  have  stood  me  in  eighty  thousand  dol 
lars,  or  even  more ;  and  here  was  I  about  to  quit  her,  out  on 
the  ocean,  with  an  almost  moral  certainty  that  not  a  cent 
of  the  money  could  be,  or  would  be,  recovered  from  the 
insurers.  These  last  only  took  risks  against  the  accidents 
of  the  ocean,  fire  included  ;  and  there  was  a  legal  obligation 
on  the  insured  to  see  that  the  vessel  was  properly  found  and 
manned.  It  was  my  own  opinion  that  no  accident  would 
have  occurred  to  the  ship,  in  the  late  gale,  had  the  full  crew 
been  on  board ;  and  that  the  ship  was  not  sufficiently  manned 
was,  in  a  legal  sense,  my  own  fault.  I  was  bound  to  let  the 
English  carry  her  into  port,  and  to  await  judgment, — the 
law  supposing  that  justice  would  have  been  done  in  the  pre 
mises.  The  law  might  have  been  greatly  mistaken  in  this 
respect ;  but  potentates  never  acknowledge  their  blunders. 
If  I  was  wronged  in  the  detention,  the  law  presumed  suitable 
damages.  It  is  true,  I  might  be  ruined  by  the  delay,  through 
the  debts  left  behind  me ;  but  the  law,  with  all  its  purity, 
cared  nothing  for  that.  Could  I  have  shown  a  loss  by 
means  of  a  falling  market,  I  might  have  obtained  redress, 
provided  the  court  chose  to  award  it,  and  provided  the  party 
did  not  appeal ;  or,  if  he  did,  that  the  subsequent  decisions 
supported  the  first ;  and  provided, — all  the  decrees  being  in 
my  favour, — my  Lord  Harry  Dermond  could  have  paid  a 
few  thousands  in  damages: — a  problem  to  be  solved,  in 
itself. 

I  always  carried  to  sea  with  me  a  handsome  chest,  that  I 
had  bought  in  one  of  my  earlier  voyages,  and  which  usually 
contained  my  money,  clothes  and  other  valuables.  This 
chest  I  managed  to  get  on  deck,  by  the  aid  of  a  purchase, 
and  over  the  ship's  side,  on  the  raft.  It  was  much  the  most 
troublesome  task  I  had  undertaken.  To  this  I  added  my 
writing-desk,  a  mattress,  two  or  three  counterpanes*  and  a 
few  other  light  articles,  which  it  struck  me  might  be  of  use 
—but,  which  I  could  cast  into  the  sea  at  any  moment,  should 
26* 


306  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

it  become  necessary.  When  all  this  was  done,  I  conceived 
that  my  useful  preparations  were  closed. 

It  was  near  night,  and  I  felt  sufficiently  fatigued  to  lie 
down  and  sleep.  The  water  had  gained  very  slowly  during 
the  last  few  hours,  but  the  ship  was  now  swimming  so  low, 
that  I  thought  it  unsafe  to  remain  in  the  vessel,  while 
asleep.  I  determined,  therefore,  to  take  my  leave  of  her, 
and  go  on  the  raft  for  that  purpose.  It  struck  me  too,  it 
might  be  unsafe  to  be  too  near  the  vessel  when  she  went 
down,  and  I  had  barely  time  to  get  the  spars  a  short  dis 
tance  from  the  ship,  before  darkness  would  come.  Still,  I 
was  unwilling  to  abandon  the  Dawn  altogether,  since  the 
spars  that  stood  on  board  her,  would  always  be  a  more 
available  signal  to  any  passing  vessel,  than  the  low  sail  I 
could  set  on  the  raft.  Should  she  float  during  the  succeed 
ing  day,  they  would  increase  the  chances  of  a  rescue,  and 
they  offered  an  advantage  not  to  be  lightly  thrown  away. 

To  force  the  spars  away  from  the  ship  was  not  an  easy 
task  of  itself.  There  is  an  attraction  in  matter,  that  is 
known  to  bring  vessels  nearer  together  in  calms,  and  I  had 
this  principle  of  nature  first  to  overcome ;  then  to  neutralize 
it,  without  the  adequate  means  for  doing  either.  Still  I  was 
very  strong,  and  possessed  all  the  resources  of  a  seaman. 
The  raft,  too,  now  its  length  was  reduced,  was  much  more 
manageable  than  it  had  been  originally,  and  in  rummaging 
about  the  twixt-decks,  I  had  found  a  set  of  oars  belonging 
to  the  launch,  which  had  been  stowed  in  the  steerage,  and 
which  of  course  were  preserved.  These  I  had  taken  to  the 
raft,  to  strengthen  my  staging,  or  deck,  and  two  of  them 
had  been  reserved  for  the  very  purpose  to  which  they  were 
now  applied. 

Cutting  away  the  kedge,  then,  and  casting  off  the  other 
ropes  I  had  used  with  which  to  breast-to  the  raft,  I  began  to 
shove  off,  just  as  the  sun  was  dipping.  So  long  as  I  could 
pull  by  the  ship,  I  did  very  well,  for  I  adopted  the  expedient 
of  hauling  astern,  instead  of  pushing  broad  off,  under  the 
notion  that  I  might  get  a  better  drift,  if  quite  from  under  the 
lee  of  the  vessel,  than  if  lying  on  her  broadside.  I  say  the 
'  lee,'  though  there  wasn't  a  breath  of  air,  nor  scarcely  any 
motion  of  the  water.  I  had  a  line  fast  to  a  stern-davit,  and 
placing  myself  with  my  feet  braced  against  the  chest,  I  soon 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  307 

overcame  the  vis  inertia  of  the  spars,  and,  exerting  all  my 
force,  when  it  was  once  in  motion,  I  succeeded  in  giving  the 
raft  an  impetus  that  carried  it  completely  past  the  ship.  I 
confess  I  felt  no  personal  apprehension  from  the  suction, 
supposing  the  ship  to  sink  while  the  raft  was  in  absolute 
contact  with  it,  but  the  agitation  of  the  water  might  weaken 
its  parts,  or  it  might  wash  most  of  my  stores  away.  This 
last  consideration  induced  me,  now,  to  go  to  work  with  the 
oars,  and  try  to  do  all  I  could,  by  that  mode  of  propelling 
my  dull  craft.  I  worked  hard  just  one  hour,  by  my  watch ; 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  the  nearest  end  of  the  raft,  or 
the  lower  part  of  the  fore-mast,  was  about  a  hundred  yards 
from  the  Dawn's  taffrail.  This  was  a  slow  movement,  and 
did  not  fail  to  satisfy  me,  that,  if  I  were  to  be  saved  at  all, 
it  would  be  by  means  of  some  passing  vessel,  and  not  by 
my  own  progress. 

Overcome  by  fatigue,  I  now  lay  dpwn  and  slept.  I  took 
no  precautions  against  the  wind's  rising  in  the  night ;  firstly, 
because  I  thought  it  impossible  from  the  tranquil  aspects  of 
the  heavens  and  the  ocean ;  and  secondly,  because  I  felt  no 
doubt  that  the  wash  of  the  water  and  the  sound  of  the  winds 
would  arouse  me,  should  it  occur  differently.  As  on  the  pre 
vious  night,  I  slept  sweetly,  and  obtained  renewed  strength 
for  any  future  trials.  As  on  the  preceding  morning,  too,  I 
was  awaked  by  the  warm  rays  of  the  rising  sun  falling  on 
my  face.  On  first  awaking,  I  did  not  know  exactly  where 
I  was.  A  moment's  reflection,  however,  sufficed  to  recall 
the  past  to  my  mind,  and  I  turned  to  examine  my  actual 
situation. 

I  looked  for  the  ship,  towards  the  end  of  the  mast,  or  in 
the  direction  where  I  had  last  seen  her ;  but  she  was  not 
visible.  The  raft  had  swung  round  in  the  night,  I  thought, 
and  I  bent  my  eyes  slowly  round  the  entire  circle  of  the 
horizon,  but  no  ship  was  to  be  seen.  The  Dawn  had  sunk 
in  the  night,  and  so  quietly  as  to  give  no  alarm  !  I  shudder 
ed,  for  I  could  not  but  imagine  what  would  have  been  my 
fate,  had  I  been  aroused  from  the  sleep  of  the  living,  only 
to  experience  the  last  agony  as  I  passed  away  into  the  sleep 
of  the  dead.  I  cannot  describe  the  sensation  that  came  over 
me,  as  I  gazed  around,  and  found  myself  on  the  broad 
ocean,  floating  on  a  little  deck  that  was  only  ten  feet  square, 


303  MILES  WALLINGFORD. 

and  which  was  raised  less  than  two  feet  above  the  surface 
of  the  waters.  It  was  now  that  I  felt  the  true  frailty  of  my 
position,  and  comprehended  all  its  dangers.  Before,  it  had 
been  shaded  by  the  ship,  as  it  might  be,  and  I  had  found  a 
species  of  protection  in  her  presence.  But,  the  whole  truth 
now  stood  before  me.  Even  a  moderate  breeze  would  raise 
a  sea  that  could  not  fail  to  break  over  the  staging,  and  which 
must  sweep  everything  away.  The  spars  had  a  specific 
lightness,  it  is  true,  and  they  would  never  sink ;  or,  if  they 
did  sink,  it  would  only  be  at  the  end  of  ages,  when  saturated 
with  water  and  covered  with  barnacles  ;  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  they  possessed  none  of  the  buoyancy  of  a  vessel,  and 
could  not  rise  above  the  rolling  waters,  sufficiently  to  clear 
their  breakers. 

These  were  not  comfortable  reflections ;  they  pressed  on 
my  mind  even  while  engaged  at  my  morning  devotions. 
After  performing,  in  the  best  manner  I  could,  this  never- 
ceasing  duty,  I  ate  a  little,  though  I  must  admit  it  was  with 
a  small  appetite.  Then  I  made  the  best  stowage  I  could  of 
my  effects,  and  rigged  and  stepped  the  mast,  hoisting  the 
sail,  as  a  signal  to  any  vessel  that  might  appear.  I  expected 
wind  ere  long ;  nor  was  I  disappointed ;  a  moderate  breeze 
springing  up  from  the  north-west,  about  nine  o'clock.  This 
air  was  an  immense  relief  to  me,  in  more  ways  than  one. 
It  cooled  my  person,  which  was  suffering  from  the  intense 
heat  of  a  summer's  sun  beating  directly  on  a  boundless  ex 
panse  of  water,  and  it  varied  a  scene  that  otherwise  possess 
ed  an  oppressively  wearisome  sameness.  Unfortunately, 
this  breeze  met  me  in  the  bows ;  for  I  had  stepped  my  mast 
in  the  foremast,  lashed  it  against  the  bottom  of  the  top, 
which  it  will  be  remembered  was  now  perpendicular,  and 
stayed  it  to  the  mast-heads  and  dead-eyes  of  the  top-mast 
rigging,  all  of  which  remained  as  when  erect,  though  now 
floating  on  the  water.  I  intended  the  fractured  part  of  the 
foremast  for  my  cut- water,  and,  of  course,  had  to  ware  ship 
before  I  could  gather  any  way.  This  single  manoeuvre 
occupied  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  my  braces,  tacks,  and  sheets 
not  working  particularly  well.  At  the  end  of  that  time, 
however,  I  got  round,  and  laid  my  yard  square. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  309 


CHAPTEE  XXIII. 

"There  was  speech  in  their  dumbness,  language  in  their  very 
gesture;  they  looked,  as  they  had  heard  of  a  world  ransomed,  or  ons 
destroyed  :  A  notable  passion  of  wonder  appeared  in  them  ;  but  the 
wisest  beholder,  that  knew  no  more  but  seeing,  could  not  say,  if  the 
importance  were  joy,  or  sorrow; — but  in  the  extremity  of  the  one,  it 
must  needs  be."  WINTER'S  TALE. 

As  soon  as  the  raft  got  fairly  before  the  wind,  and  the 
breeze  had  freshened,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining 
what  it  would  do.  The  royal  was  a  large  one,  and  it  stood 
well.  I  had  brought  a  log-line  and  the  slow-glass  with  me, 
as  well  as  my  quadrant,  slate,  &c.,  and  began  to  think  of 
keeping  a  reckoning.  I  had  supposed  the  ship  to  be,  when 
it  fell  calm,  about  two  hundred  miles  from  the  land,  and  I 
knew  her  to  be  in  latitude  48°  37".  The  log-line  told  me, 
the  raft  moved  through  the  water,  all  that  forenoon,  at  the 
rate  of  about  half  a  knot  in  the  hour;  and  could  I  keep  on 
for  fifteen  or  sixteen  days,  in  a  straight  course,  I  might  yet 
hope  to  get  ashore.  I  was  not  so  weak,  however,  as  to  ex 
pect  any  such  miracle  to  be  wrought  in  my  favour,  though, 
had  I  been  in  the  trades,  the  thing  might  have  occurred. 
By  cutting  adrift  the  two  yards,  or  by  getting  them  fore  and 
aft,  in  a  line  with  the  water,  my  rate  of  sailing  might  be 
doubled ;  and  I  began  seriously  to  think  of  effecting  this 
great  change.  Cut  the  yards  adrift  I  did  not  like  to  do,  their 
support  in  keeping  me  out  of  water  being  very  important. 
By  hauling  on  the  lift,  I  did  get  them  in  a  more  oblique 
position,  and  in  a  measure  thus  lessened  their  resistance  to 
the  element.  I  thought  that  even  this  improvement  made  a 
difference  of  half  a  knot  in  my  movement.  Nevertheless, 
it  was  tedious  work  to  be  a  whole  hour  in  going  less  than  a 
single  mile,  when  two  hundred  remained  to  be  travelled, 
and  the  risks  of  the  ocean  were  thus  constantly  impending 
over  one ! 

What  a  day  was  that !  It  blew  pretty  fresh  at  one  time, 
and  I  began  to  tremble  for  my  staging,  or  deck,  which  got 
washed  several  times,  though  the  top-sail-yard  made  for  it 
a  sort  of  lee,  and  helped  to  protect  it.  Towards  the  dechno 


310  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

of  the  day,  the  wind  went  down,  and  at  sunset  everything 
was  as  tranquil  as  it  had  been  the  previous  evening.  I 
thought  I  might  have  been  eight  or  nine  miles  from  the  spot 
where  the  Dawn  went  down,  without  computing  the  influ 
ence  of  the  currents,  which  may  have  set  me  all  that  dis 
tance  back  again,  or  so  much  further  ahead,  for  anything  I 
knew  of  the  matter.  At  sunset  I  took  an  anxious  survey 
of  the  horizon,  to  see  if  any  sail  were  in  sight ;  but  nothing 
was  visible. 

Another  tranquil  night  gave  me  another  tranquil  night's 
rest.  I  call  the  last  tranquil,  as  it  proved  to  be  in  one  sense, 
though  I  was  sorely  troubled  with  dreams.  Had  I  been  suf 
fering  for  nourishment,  I  certainly  should  have  dreamed  of 
food ;  but,  such  not  being  the  case,  my  thoughts  took  the 
direction  of  home  and  friends.  Much  of  the  time,  I  lay 
half  asleep  and  half  awake ;  then  my  mind  would  revert  to 
my  sister,  to  Lucy,  to  Mr.  Hardinge,  and  to  Clawbonny — 
which  I  fancied  already  in  the  possession  of  John  Walling- 
ford,  who  was  triumphing  in  his  ownership,  and  the  success 
of  his  arts.  Then  I  thought  Lucy,  had  purchased  the  place, 
and  was  living  there  with  Andrew  Drewett,  in  a  handsome 
new  house,  built  in  the  modern  taste.  By  modern  taste,  I 
do  not  mean  one  of  the  Grecian-temple  school,  as  I  do  not 
think  that  even  all  the  vagaries  of  a  diseased  imagination, 
that  was  suffering  under  the  calamities  of  shipwreck,  could 
induce  me  to  imagine  Lucy  Hardinge  silly  enough  to  desire 
to  live  in  such  a  structure. 

Towards  morning,  I  fell  into  a  doze,  the  fourth  or  fifth 
renewal  of  my  slumbers  that  night ;  and  I  remember  that  I 
had  that  sort  of  curious  sensation  which  apprises  us  itself, 
it  was  a  dream.  In  the  course  of  the  events  that  passed 
through  my  mind,  I  fancied  I  overheard  Marble  and  Neb 
conversing.  Their  voices  were  low,  and  solemn,  as  I 
thought ;  and  the  words  so  distinct,  that  I  still  remember 
every  syllable. 

"  No,  Neb,"  said  Marble,  or  seemed  to  say,  in  a  most 
sorrowful  tone,  one  I  had  never  heard  him  use  even  in 
speaking  of  his  hermitage.  "  There  is  little  hope  for  Miles, 
now.  I  felt  as  if  the  poor  boy  was  lost  when  I  saw  him 
swept  away  from  me,  by  them  bloody  spars  striking  adrift, 
and  set  him  down  as  one  gone  from  that  moment.  You've 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  311 

lost  an  A.  No.  1.  master,  Mister  Neb,  I  can  tell  you,  ana 
you  may  sarve  a  hundred  before  you  fall  in  with  his  like 
ag'in." 

"  I  nebber  sarve  anoder  gentleum,  Misser  Marble,"  re 
turned  the  black  ;  "  dat  as  sartain  as  gospel.  I  born  in  7o 
Wallingford  family,  and  I  lib  an'  die  in  'e  same  family,  or  I 
don't  want  to  lib  and  die,  at  all.  My  real  name  be  Walling 
ford,  dough  folk  do  call  me  Clawbonny." 

"  Ay,  and  a  slim  family  it 's  got  to  be !"  rejoined  the  mate. 
**  The  nicest,  and  the  handsomest,  and  the  most  virtuous 
young  woman  in  all  York  State,  is  gone  out  of  it,  first:  I  knew 
but  little  of  her ;  but,  how  often  did  poor  Miles  tell  me  all 
about  her ;  and  how  he  loved  her,  and  how  she  loved  him, 
and  the  like  of  all  that,  as  is  becoming ;  and  something  in 
the  way  that  I  love  little  Kitty,  my  niece  you  know,  Neb, 
only  a  thousand  times  more ;  and  hearing  so  much  of  a  per 
son  is  all  the  same,  or  even  better  than  to  know  them  up 
and  down,  if  a  body  wants  to  feel  respect  with  all  his 
heart.  Secondly,  as  a  person  would  say,  now  there 's  Miles, 
lost  too,  for  the  ship  is  sartainly  gone  down,  Neb :  other 
wise,  she  would  have  been  seen  floating  hereabouts,  and  we 
may  log  him  as  a  man  lost  overboard." 

"  P'rhaps  not,  Misser  Marble,"  said  the  negro.  "  Mas- 
ser  Mile  swim  like  a  fish,  and  he  isn't  the  gentleum  to 
give  up  as  soon  as  trouble  come.  P'rhaps  he  swimming 
about  all  dis  time." 

"  Miles  could  do  all  that  man  could  do,  Neb,  but  he  can*i 
swim  two  hundred  miles — a  South  sea-man  might  do  some 
thing  like  that,  I  do  suppose,  but  they  're  onaccountably  web- 
footed.  No,  no,  Neb ;  I  fear  we  shall  have  to  give  him  up. 
Providence  swept  him  away  from  us,  like,  and  we  've  lost 
him.  Ah's  me ! — well,  I  loved  that  boy  better,  even,  than 
a  Yankee  loves  cucumbers." 

This  may  be  thought  an  odd  comparison  to  cross  a  drowsy 
imagination,  but  it  was  one  Marble  often  made ;  and  if  eat 
ing  the  fruit,  morning,  noon  and  night,  will  vindicate  its  jus 
tice,  the  mate  stood  exonerated  from  everything  like  exag 
geration. 

"  Ebbry  body  lub  Masser  Mile,"  said  the  warm-hearted 
Neb,  or  I  thought  he  so  said.  "  I  nebber  see  dat  we  can 


312  MILES   WALLINOFORD. 

go  home  to  good  old  Masser  Hardinge,  and  tell  him  how  we 
lose  Masser  Mile !" 

"  It  will  be  a  hard  job,  Neb,  but  I  greatly  fear  it  must  be 
done.  However,  we  will  now  turn  in  and  try  to  catch  a 
nap,  for  the  wind  will  be  rising  one  of  these  times,  and  then 
we  shall  have  need  of  keeping  our  eyes  wide  open." 

After  this  I  heard  no  more;  but  every  word  of  that  which 
I  have  related,  sounded  as  plainly  in  my  ears  as  if  the 
speakers  were  within  fifty  feet  of  me.  I  lay  in  the  same 
state,  some  time  longer,  endeavouring,  as  I  was  curious  my 
self,  of  catching,  or  fancying,  more  words  from  those  I  loved 
so  well ;  but  no  more  came.  Then  I  believe  I  fell  into  a 
deeper  sleep,  for  I  remember  no  more,  for  hours. 

At  dawn  I  awoke,  the  care  on  my  mind  answering  for  a 
call.  This  time,  I  did  not  wait  for  the  sun  to  shine  in  my 
eyes,  but,  of  the  two,  I  rather  preceded,  than  awaited  the 
return  of  the  light.  On  standing  erect,  I  found  the  sea  as 
tranquil  as  it  had  been  the  previous  night,  and  there  was 
an  entire  calm.  It  was  still  so  dusky  that  a  little  examina 
tion  was  necessary  to  be  certain  nothing  was  near.  The 
horizon  was  scarcely  clear,  though,  making  my  first  look 
towards  the  east,  objects  were  plainest  in  that  quarter  of  the 
ocean.  I  then  turned  slowly  round,  examining  the  vast  ex 
panse  of  water  as  I  did  so,  until  my  back  was  towards  the 
approaching  light,  and  I  faced  the  west.  I  thought  I  saw 
a  boat  within  ten  yards  of  me  !  At  first,  I  took  it  for  illu 
sion,  and  rubbed  my  eyes  to  make  sure  that  I  was  awake. 
There  it  was,  however,  and  another  look  satisfied  me  it  was 
my  own  launch,  or  that  in  which  poor  Neb  had  been  car 
ried  overiboard.  What  was  more,  it  was  floating  in  the 
proper  manner,  appeared  buoyant,  and  had  two  masts  rig 
ged.  It  is  true,  that  it  looked  dusky,  as  objects  appear 
just  at  dawn,  but  it  was  sufficiently  distinct.  I  could  not 
be  mistaken;  it  was  my  own  launch  thus  thrown  within 
my  reach  by  the  mercy  of  divine  Providence ! 

This  boat,  then,  had  survived  the  gale,  and  the  winds  and 
currents  had  brought  it  and  the  raft  together.  What  had 
become  of  Neb  t  He  must  have  rigged  the  masts,  for  none 
were  stepped,  of  course,  when  the  boat  was  in  the  chocks. 
Masts,  and  sails,  and  oars  were  always  kept  in  the  boat,  it 
ii  true ;  but  the  first  could  not  be  stepped  without  hands.  A 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  313 

strange,  wild  feeling  came  over  me,  as  a  man  might  be  sup 
posed  to  yield  tc  the  appearance  of  supernatural  agencies . 
and,  almost  without  intending  it,  I  shouted  "  boat  ahoy !" 

"  Yo  hoy  !"  answered  Marble  ;— "  who  hails  ?" 

The  form  of  the  mate  appeared  rising  in  the  boat ;  at  the 
next  instant,  Neb  stood  at  his  side.  The  conversation  of  the 
previous  night  had  been  real,  and  those  whom  I  had  mourn 
ed  as  lost  stood  within  thirty  feet  of  me,  hale,  hearty,  and 
unharmed.  The  boat  and  raft  had  approached  each  other 
in  the  darkness ;  and,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  the  launch 
having  fanned  along  for  several  hours  of  the  night,  stopped 
for  want  of  wind  nearly  where  I  now  saw  her,  and  where 
the  dialogue,  part  of  which  I  overheard  while  half  asleep, 
had  taken  place.  Had  the  launch  continued  on  its  course 
only  ten  yards  further,  it  would  have  hit  the  fore-top-mast. 
That  attraction  of  which  I  have  already  spoken,  probably 
kept  the  boat  and  raft  near  each  other  throughout  the  night, 
and  quite  likely  had  been  slowly  drawing  them  together 
while  we  slept. 

It  would  not  be  easy  to  say  which  party  was  the  most 
astonished  at  this  recognition.  There  was  Marble,  whom  I 
had  supposed  washed  off  the  raft,  safe  in  the  launch ;  and 
here  was  I,  whom  the  other  two  had  thought  to  have  gone 
down  in  the  ship,  safe  on  the  raft !  We  appeared  to  have 
changed  places,  without  concert  and  without  expectation  of 
ever  again  meeting.  Though  ignorant  of  the  means  through 
which  all  this  had  been  brought  about,  I  very  well  know 
what  we  did,  as  soon  as  each  man  was  certain  that  he  saw 
the  other  standing  before  him  in  the  flesh.  We  sat  down 
and  wept  like  three  children.  Then  Neb,  too  impatient  to 
wait  for  Marble's  movements,  threw  himself  into  the  sea, 
and  swam  to  the  raft.  When  he  got  on  the  staging,  the 
honest  fellow  kissed  my  hands,  again  and  again,  blubbering 
the  whole  time  like  a  girl  of  three  or  four  years  of  age. 
This  scene  was  interrupted  only  by  the  expostulations  and 
proceedings  of  the  mate. 

"  What 's  this  you  're  doing,  you  bloody  nigger !"  cried 
Marble.     "  Desarting  your  station,  and  leaving  me  here, 
alone,  to  manage  this  heavy  launch,  by  myself.     It  might 
be  the  means  of  losing  all  hands  of  us  again,  should  a  hur 
ricane  spring  up  suddenly,  and  wreck  us  over  again.'* 
27 


314  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

The  truth  was,  Marble  began  to  be  ashamed  of  the  weak, 
ness  he  had  betrayed,  and  was  ready  to  set  upon  anything, 
in  order  to  conceal  it.  Neb  put  an  end  to  this  sally,  how 
ever,  by  plunging  again  into  the  water,  and  swimming  back 
to  the  boat,  as  readily  as  he  had  come  to  the  raft. 

"  Ay,  here  you  are,  Neb,  nigger-like,  and  not  knowing 
whether  to  stay  or  to  go,"  growled  the  mate,  busy  the  whole 
time  in  shipping  two  oars.  "  You  put  me  in  mind  of  a  great 
singer  I  once  heard  in  Liverpool ;  a  chap  that  would  keep 
shaking  and  quavering  at  the  end  of  a  varse,  in  such  a  style 
that  he  sometimes  did  not  know  whether  to  let  go  or  to  hold 
on.  It  is  onbecoming  in  men  to  forget  themselves,  Neb ;  if 
we  have  found  him  we  thought  to  be  lost,  it  is  no  reason  for 
desarting  our  stations,  or  losing  our  wits  —  Miles,  my  dear 
boy,"  springing  on  the  raft,  and  sending  Neb  adrift  again, 
all  alone,  by  the  backward  impetus  of  the  leap  —  "Miles, 
my  dear  boy,  God  be  praised  for  this !"  squeezing  both  my 
hands  as  in  a  vice  —  "I  don't  know  how  it  is  —  but  ever 
since  I  've  fallen  in  with  my  mother  and  little  Kitty,  I  've 
got  to  be  womanish.  I  suppose  it 's  what  you  call  domestic 
affection." 

Here,  Marble  gave  in  once  more,  blubbering  just  as  hard 
as  Neb,  himself,  had  done. 

A  few  minutes  later,  all  three  began  to  know  what  we 
were  about.  The  launch  was  hauled  up  alongside  of  the 
stage,  and  we  sat  on  the  latter,  relating  the  manner  in  which 
each  of  us  had  been  saved.  First,  then,  as  to  Neb :  I  have 
already  told  the  mode  in  which  the  launch  was  swept  over 
board,  and  I  inferred  its  loss  from  the  violence  of  the  tem 
pest,  and  the  height  of  the  seas  that  were  raging  around  us. 
It  is  true,  neither  Marble,  nor  I,  saw  anything  of  the  launch 
after  it  sunk  behind  the  first  hill  of  water  to  leeward,  for 
we  had  too  much  to  attend  to  on  board  the  ship,  to  have 
leisure  to  look  about  us.  But,  it  seems  the  black  was  ena 
bled  to  maintain  the  boat,  the  right  side  up,  and,  by  bailing, 
to  keep  her  afloat.  He  drove  to  leeward,  of  course,  and  the 
poor  fellow  described  in  vivid  terms  his  sensations,  as  he 
saw  the  rate  at  which  he  was  driving  away  from  the  ship, 
and  the  manner  in  which  he  lost  sight  of  her  remaining 
spars.  As  soon  as  the  wind  would  permit,  however,  he 
stepped  the  masts,  and  set  the  two  luggs  close-reefed,  making 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  315 

stretches  of  three  or  four  miles  in  length,  to  windward. 
This  timely  decision  was  the  probable  means  of  saving  all 
our  lives.  In  the  course  of  a  few  hours,  after  he  had  got 
the  boat  under  command,  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  fore- 
royal-masts  sticking  out  from  the  cap  of  a  sea,  and  watch 
ing  it  eagerly,  he  next  perceived  the  whole  of  the  raft,  as  it 
came  up  on  the  same  swell,  with  Marble,  half-drowned, 
lashed  to  the  top.  It  was  quite  an  hour,  before  Neb  could 
get  near  enough  to  the  raft,  or  spars,  to  make  Marble  con 
scious  of  his  presence,  and  sometime  longer  ere  he  could 
get  the  sufferer  into  the  boat.  This  rescue  did  not  occur 
one  minute  too  soon,  for  the  mate  admitted  to  me  he  was 
half  drowned,  and  that  he  did  not  think  he  could  have  held 
out  much  longer,  when  Neb  took  him  into  the  boat. 

As  for  food  and  water,  they  fared  well  enough.  A 
breaker  of  fresh  water  was  kept  in  each  boat,  by  my  stand 
ing  orders,  and  it  seems  that  the  cook,  who  was  a  bit  of  an 
epicure  in  his  way,  was  in  the  habit  of  stowing  a  bag  of 
bread,  and  certain  choice  pieces  of  beef  and  pork,  in  the 
bows  of  the  launch,  for  his  own  special  benefit.  All  these 
Neb  had  found,  somewhat  the  worse  for  salt-water,  it  is 
true,  but  still  in  a  condition  to  be  eaten.  There  was  suffi 
cient  in  the  launch,  therefore,  when  we  thus  met,  to  sustain 
Marble  and  Neb,  in  good  heart,  for  a  week. 

As  soon  as  the  mate  was  got  off  the  raft,  he  took  direction 
of  the  launch.  Unluckily,  he  made  a  long  stretch  to  the 
northward,  intending  to  tack  and  cross  what  he  supposed 
must  have  been  the  position  of  the  ship,  and  come  to  my 
relief.  While  the  launch  was  thus  working  its  way  to 
windward,  I  fell  in  with,  and  took  possession  of,  the  raft,  as 
has  been  described.  Marble's  calculation  was  a  good  one, 
in  the  main ;  but  it  brought  him  near  the  Dawn  the  night 
she  sank,  and  the  raft  and  boat  were  both  too  low  to  be  seen 
at  any  distance,  the  one  from  the  other.  It  is  probable  we 
were  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  miles  asunder  the  most  of 
the  day  I  was  on  the  raft,  Marble  putting  up  his  helm  to 
cross  the  supposed  position  of  the  ship,  about  three  in  the 
afternoon.  This  brought  him  down  upon  the  raft,  about 
midnight,  when  the  conversation  I  have  related  took  place, 
within  a  few  yards  of  me,  neither  party  having  the  least 
notion  of  the  proximity  of  the  other. 


316  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

I  was  touched  by  the  manner  in  which  Marble  and  Neb 
spoke  of  my  supposed  fate.  Neither  seemed  to  remember 
that  he  was  washed  away  from  a  ship,  but  appeared  to  fancy 
that  I  was  abandoned  alone,  on  the  high  seas,  in  a  sinking 
vessel.  While  I  had  been  regretting  their  misfortunes,  they 
had  both  thought  of  me  as  the  party  to  be  pitied  ;  each  fan 
cying  his  own  fortune  more  happy  than  mine.  In  a  word, 
their  concern  for  me  was  so  great,  that  they  altogether  forgot 
to  dwell  on  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  their  own  particu 
lar  cases.  I  could  not  express  all  I  felt  on  the  occasion ; 
but  the  events  of  that  morning,  and  the  feelings  betrayed  by 
my  two  old  shipmates,  made  an  impression  on  my  heart, 
that  time  has  not,  nor  ever  can,  efface.  Most  men  who  had 
been  washed  overboard,  would  have  fancied  themselves  the 
suffering  party;  but  during  the  remainder  of  the  long  inter 
course  that  succeeded,  both  Marble  and  Neb  always  alluded 
to  this  occurrence  as  if  I  were  the  person  lost  and  rescued. 

We  were  an  hour  or  more  intently  occupied  in  these 
explanations,  before  either  recollected  the  future.  Then  I 
felt  it  was  time  to  have  some  thought  for  our  situation, 
which  was  sufficiently  precarious,  as  it  was;  though  Marble 
and  Neb  made  light  of  any  risks  that  remained  to  be  run. 
I  was  saved,  as  it  might  be,  by  a  miracle ;  and  that  was  all 
that  they  could  remember,  just  then.  But  a  breeze  sprang 
up  from  the  eastward,  as  the  sun  appeared,  and  the  agitation 
of  the  raft  soon  satisfied  me  that  my  berth  would  have  been 
most  precarious,  had  I  not  been  so  providentially  relieved. 
It  is  true,  Marble  made  light  of  the  present  state  of  things, 
which,  compared  to  those  into  which  he  had  been  so  sud 
denly  launched, — without  food,  water,  or  provisions,  of  any 
sort, — was  a  species  of  paradise.  Nevertheless,  no  time  wai 
to  be  wasted ;  and  we  had  a  long  road  to  travel  in  the  boat, 
ere  we  could  deem  ourselves  in  the  least  safe. 

My  two  associates  had  got  the  launch  in  as  good  order  as 
circumstances  would  allow.  But  it  wanted  ballast  to  carry 
sail  hard,  and  they  had  felt  this  disadvantage ;  particularly 
Neb,  when  he  first  got  the  boat  on  a  wind.  I  could  under 
stand,  by  his  account  of  the  difficulties  and  dangers  he  ex 
perienced, — though  it  came  out  incidentally,  and  without  the 
smallest  design  to  magnify  his  own  merits, — that  nothing 
but  his  undying  interest  in  me,  could  have  prevented  him 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  317 

from  running  off  before  the  wind,  in  order  to  save  his  own 
life.  An  opportunity  now  offered  to  remedy  this  evil,  and 
we  went  to  work  to  transfer  all  the  effects  I  had  placed 
on  the  stage,  to  the  launch.  They  made  a  little  cargo  that 
gave  her  stability  at  once.  As  soon  as  this  was  done,  we 
entered  the  boat,  made  sail,  and  hauled  close  on  a  wind, 
under  reefed  luggs ;  it  beginning  to  blow  smartly  in  puffs. 

I  did  not  part  from  the  raft  without  melancholy  regrets. 
The  materials  of  which  it  was  composed  were  all  that  now 
remained  of  the  Dawn.  Then  the  few  hours  of  jeopardy 
and  loneliness  I  had  passed  on  it,  were  not  to  be  forgotten. 
They  still  recur  vividly  to  my  thoughts  with  deep,  and,  I 
trust,  profitable,  reflections.  The  first  hour  after  we  cast 
off,  we  stood  to  the  southward.  The  wind  continuing  to 
increase  in  violence,  and  the  sea  to  get  up,  until  it  blew  too 
fresh  for  the  boat  to  make  any  headway,  or  even  to  hold 
her  own  against  it,  Marble  thought  he  might  do  better  on 
the  other  tack, — having  some  reason  to  suppose  there  was  a 
current  setting  to  the  southward  and  eastward, — and  we 
wore  round.  After  standing  to  the  northward  for  a  sufficient 
length  of  time,  we  again  fell  in  with  the  spars ;  a  proof  that  we 
were  doing  nothing  towards  working  our  way  to  windward. 
I  determined,  at  once,  to  make  fast  to  them,  and  use  them 
as  a  sort  of  floating  anchor,  so  long  as  the  foul  wind  lasted. 
We  had  some  difficulty  in  effecting  this  object;  but  we 
finally  succeeded  in  getting  near  enough,  under  the  lee  of 
the  top,  to  make  fast  to  one  of  its  eye-bolts — using  a  bit  of 
small  hawser,  that  was  in  the  boat,  for  that  purpose.  The 
boat  was  then  dropped  a  sufficient  distance  to  leeward  of  the 
spars,  where  it  rode  head  to  sea,  like  a  duck.  This  was  a 
fortunate  expedient;  as  it  came  on  to  blow  hard,  and  we  had 
something  very  like  a  little  gale  of  wind. 

As  soon  as  the  launch  was  thus  moored,  we  found  its  ad 
vantage.  It  shipped  no  more  water,  or  very  little,  and  we 
were  not  compelled  to  be  on  the  look-out  for  squalls,  which 
occurred  every  ten  or  fifteen  minutes,  with  a  violence  that 
it  would  not  do  to  trifle  with.  The  weather  thickened  at 
these  moments ;  and  there  were  intervals  of  half  an  hour 
at  a  time,  when  we  could  not  see  a  hundred  yards  from  the 
boat,  on  account  of  the  drizzling,  misty  rain  that  filled  the 
atmosphere.  There  we  sat,  conversing  sometimes  of  the 
27* 


518  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

past,  sometimes  of  the  future,  a  bubble  in  the  midst  of  the 
raging  waters  of  the  Atlantic,  filled  with  the  confidence  of 
seamen.  With  the  stout  boat  we  possessed,  the  food  and 
water  we  had,  I  do  not  think  either  now  felt  any  great  con 
cern  for  his  fate;  it  being  possible,  in  moderate  weather,  to 
run  the  launch  far  enough  to  reach  an  English  port  in  about 
a  week.  Favoured  by  even  a  tolerably  fair  wind,  the  ob 
ject  might  be  effected  in  even  two  or  three  days. 

"  I  take  it  for  granted,  Miles,"  Marble  remarked,  as  we 
pursued  our  discourse,  "  that  your  insurance  will  completely 
cover  your  whole  loss '(  You  did  not  forget  to  include  freight 
in  the  risks  ?" 

"  So  far  from  this,  Moses,  I  believe  myself  to  be  nearly 
or  quite  a  ruined  man.  The  loss  of  the  ship  is  unquestion 
ably  owing  to  the  act  of  the  Speedy,  united  to  our  own,  in 
setting  those  Englishmen  adrift  on  the  ocean.  No  insurers 
will  meet  a  policy  that  has  thus  been  voided." 

"  Ah !  the  blackguards !  —  This  is  worse  than  I  had 
thought ; — but  you  can  always  make  a  harbour  at  Claw- 
bonny  r 

I  was  on  the  point  of  explaining  to  Marble  how  I  stood 
in  relation  to  the  paternal  acres,  when  a  sort  of  shadow 
was  suddenly  cast  on  the  boat,  and  I  fancied  the  rushing  of 
the  water  seemed  to  be  increased  at  the  same  instant.  We 
all  three  sat  with  our  faces  to  leeward,  and  all  turned  them 
to  windward  under  a  common  impulse.  A  shout  burst  from 
Marble's  throat,  and  a  sight  met  my  eyes,  that  caused  the 
blood  to  rush  in  a  torrent  through  my  heart.  Literally 
within  a  hundred  feet  of  us,  was  a  large  ship,  ploughing  the 
ocean  with  a  furrow  that  rose  to  her  hawse-holes,  and  piling 
before  her,  in  her  track,  a  mound  of  foam,  as  she  came 
down  upon  us,  with  top-mast  and  lower  studding-sails  set — 
overshadowing  the  sea,  like  some  huge  cloud.  There  was 
scarcely  time  for  more  than  a  glance,  ere  this  ship  was 
nearly  upon  us.  As  she  rose  on  a  swell,  her  black  sides 
came  up  out  of  the  ocean,  glittering  and  dripping,  and  the 
line  of  frowning  guns  seemed  as  if  just  lacquered.  Neb 
was  in  the  bow  of  the  launch,  while  I  was  in  the  stern. 
My  arm  was  extended  involuntarily,  or  instinctively  would 
be  the  better  word,  to  avert  the  danger,  when  it  seemed  to 
me  that  the  next  send  tf  the  ship  would  crush  us  beneath 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  319 

the  bright  copper  of  her  bottom.  Without  Neb's  strength 
and  presence  of  mind,  we  had  been  lost  beyond  a  hope;  for 
swimming  up  to  the  spars  against  the  sea  that  was  on, 
would  have  been  next  to  hopeless ;  and  even  if  there,  with 
out  food,  or  water,  our  fate  would  have  been  sealed.  But 
Neb  seized  the  hawser  by  which  we  were  riding,  and  hauled 
the  launch  ahead  her  length,  or  more,  before  the  frigate's 
larboard  bower-anchor  settled  down  in  a  way  that  menaced 
crushing  us.  As  it  was,  I  actually  laid  a  hand  on  the  muz 
zle  of  the  third  gun,  while  the  ship  went  foaming  by.  At  the 
next  instant  she  was  past;  and  we  were  safe.  Then  all 
three  of  us  shouted  together.  Until  that  moment,  none  in 
the  frigate  were  aware  of  our  vicinity.  But  the  shout  gave 
the  alarm,  and  as  the  ship  cleared  us,  her  taffrail  was  co 
vered  with  officers.  Among  them  was  one  grey-headed 
man,  whom  I  recognised  by  his  dress  for  the  captain.  He 
made  a  gesture,  turning  an  arm  upward,  and  I  knew  an 
order  was  given  immediately  after,  by  the  instantaneous 
manner  in  which  the  taffrail  was  cleared. 

"  By  George !"  exclaimed  Marble,  "  I  had  a  generalizing 
time  of  it,  for  half  a  dozen  seconds,  Miles." 

"  There  was  more  risk,"  I  answered,  "  than  time  to  re 
flect  on  it.  However,  the  ship  is  about  to  round-to,  and  we 
shall  be  picked  up,  at  last.  Let  us  thank  God  for  this." 

It  was  indeed  a  beautiful  sight  for  a  seaman,  to  note  the 
manner  in  which  that  old  captain  handled  his  vessel.  Al 
though  we  found  the  wind  and  sea  too  much  for  a  boat  that 
had  to  turn  to  windward,  neither  was  of  much  moment  to 
a  stout  frigate,  that  carried  fifty  guns,  and  which  was  run 
ning  off,  with  the  wind  on  her  quarter. 

She  was  hardly  past  us,  when  I  could  see  preparations 
making  to  take  in  canvass.  At  the  instant  she  overshadowed 
us  with  her  huge  wings,  this  vessel  had  top-gallant-sails  set, 
with  two  top-mast,  and  a  lower  studding-sail,  besides  carry 
ing  the  lee-clew  of  her  main-sail  down,  and  the  other  cus 
tomary  cloth  spread.  Up  went  her  main-sail,  almost  as 
soon  as  the  captain  made  the  signal  with  his  arm ;  then  all 
three  of  the  top-gallant-sails  were  flying  at  the  same  mo 
ment.  Presently,  the  yards  were  alive  with  men,  and  the 
loose  canvass  was  rolled  up,  and  the  gaskets  passed.  While 
this  was  doing,  down  came  all  the  studding-sails  together. 


320  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

much  as  a  bird  shuts  its  wings.  The  booms  disappeared 
immediately  after. 

"Look  at  that,  Miles  1"  cried  the  delighted  Marble.  "Al 
though  a  bloody  Englishman,  that  chap  leaves  nothing  to 
be  done  over  again.  He  puts  everything  in  its  place,  like 
an  old  woman  stowing  away  her  needles  and  thread.  I  '11 
warrant  you,  the  old  blade  is  a  keen  one !" 

"  The  ship  is  well  handled,  certainly,  and  her  people  work 
like  mariners  who  are  trying  to  save  the  lives  of  mariners." 

While  this  was  passing  between  us,  the  frigate  was  strip 
ped  to  her  three  top-sails,  spanker,  jib,  and  fore-course. 
Down  came  her  yards,  next ;  arid  then  they  were  covered 
with  blue-jackets,  like  bees  clustering  around  a  hive.  We 
had  scarcely  time  to  note  this,  ere  the  men  lay  in,  and  the 
yards  were  up  again,  with  the  sails  reefed.  This  was  no 
sooner  done,  than  the  frigate,  which  had  luffed  the  instant 
the  steering-sails  were  in,  was  trimmed  close  on  a  wind,  and 
began  to  toss  the  water  over  her  sprit-sail-yard,  as  she  met 
the  waves  like  one  that  paid  them  no  heed.  No  sooner  was 
the  old  seaman  who  directed  all  this,  assured  of  the  strength 
of  the  wind  he  had  to  meet,  than  down  went  his  main-sail 
again,  and  the  tack  was  hauled  aboard. 

The  stranger  was  then  umder  the  smartest  canvass  a 
frigate  can  carry ;  reefs  in  her  top-sails,  with  the  courses 
set.  Her  sail  could  be  shortened  in  an  instant,  yet  she  was 
under  a  press  of  it ;  more  than  an  ordinary  vessel  would 
presume  to  carry,  perhaps,  in  so  strong  a  breeze. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  jeopardy  from  which  we  had 
just  escaped,  and  the  imminent  hazard  so  lately  ran,  all  three 
of  us  watched  the  movements  of  the  frigate  with  as  much 
satisfaction  as  a  connoisseur  would  examine  a  fine  painting. 
Even  Neb  let  several  nigger  expressions  of  pleasare  escape 
him. 

By  the  time  sail  could  be  shortened  and  the  ship  hauled 
close  on  a  wind,  the  frigate  was  nearer  half  than  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  off.  We  had  to  wait,  therefore,  until  she  could 
beat  up  to  the  place  where  we  lay.  This  she  soon  did, 
making  one  stretch  to  the  southward,  until  in  a  line  with  the 
boat,  when  she  tacked,  and  came  toward  us,  with  her  yards 
braced  up,  but  having  the  wind  nearly  abeam.  As  she  got 
within  a  cable's-length,  both  courses  were  hauled  up,  and 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  321 

left  hanging  in  the  brails.  Then  the  noble  craft  came  roll, 
ing  by  us,  in  the  trough,  passing  so  near  that  we  might  be 
spoken.  The  old  officer  stood  in  the  weather  gang-way, 
with  a  trumpet,  and  he  hailed,  when  near  enough  to  be 
heard.  Instead  of  asking  questions,  to  satisfy  his  own  cu 
riosity,  he  merely  communicated  his  own  intentions. 

"  I  '11  heave-to,  when  past  you,"  he  cried  out,  "  waring 
ship  to  do  so.  You  can  then  drop  down  under  my  stern,  as 
close  as  possible,  and  we  '11  throw  you  a  rope." 

I  understood  the  plan,  which  was  considerate,  having  a 
regard  to  the  feebleness  of  our  boat's  crew,  and  the  weight 
of  the  boat  itself.  Accordingly,  when  she  had  room  enough, 
the  frigate  wore,  hauling  up  close  on  the  other  tack,  and 
laying  her  main-yard  square.  As  soon  as  the  ship  was 
stationary,  Neb  cast  off  the  hawser,  and  Marble  and  he 
manned  two  oars.  We  got  the  boat  round  without  much 
risk,  and,  in  less  time  than  it  takes  to  write  it,  were  sending 
down  towards  the  ship  at  a  furious  rate.  I  steered,  and 
passed  so  near  the  frigate's  rudder,  that  I  thought,  for  an 
instant,  I  had  gone  too  close.  A  rope  was  hove  as  we 
cleared  the  lee-quarter  of  the  frigate,  and  the  people  on  board 
hauled  us  alongside.  We  caught  the  man-ropes,  and  were 
soon  on  the  quarter-deck.  A  respectable-looking  elderly 
man,  of  a  square,  compact  frame,  and  a  fine  ruddy  English 
face,  in  a  post-captain's  undress,  received  me,  with  an  ex 
tended  hand,  and  a  frank,  generous,  hearty  manner. 

"  You  are  welcome  on  board  the  Briton,"  he  said,  warm 
ly  ;  "  and  I  thank  God  that  he  has  put  it  in  our  power  to 
relieve  you.  Your  ship  must  have  been  lost  quite  recently, 
as  you  do  not  seem  to  have  suffered.  When  you  feel  equal 
to  it,  I  should  like  to  hear  the  name  of  your  vessel,  and  the 
particulars  of  her  disaster.  I  suppose  it  was  in  the  late 
blow,  which  was  a  whacker,  and  did  lots  of  mischief  along 
the  coast.  I  see  you  are  Americans,  and  that  your  boat  is 
New  York  built ;  but  all  men  in  distress  are  countrymen." 

This  was  a  hearty  reception,  and  one  I  had  every  reason 
to  extol.  So  long  as  I  stayed  with  Captain  Rowley,  as  this 
officer  was  named,  I  had  no  reason  to  complain  of  any 
change  in  his  deportment.  Had  I  been  his  son,  he  could 
not  have  treated  me  more  kindly,  taking  me  into  his  own 
cabin,  and  giving  me  a  seat  at  his  own  table.  I  gave  him 


322  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

an  outline  of  what  had  happened  to  us,  not  deeming  it  ne 
cessary  to  relate  the  affair  with  the  Speedy,  however;  simply 
mentioning  the  manner  in  which  we  had  escaped  from  a 
French  privateer,  and  leaving  him  to  infer,  should  he  see 
fit,  that  the  rest  of  our  crew  had  been  carried  away  on  that 
occasion.  My  reserve  on  the  subject  of  the  other  capture, 
the  reader  will  at  once  see,  was  merely  a  necessary  piece 
of  prudent  caution. 

Captain  Rowley  had  no  sooner  heard  my  story,  which  I 
made  as  short  as  possible,  knowing  that  Marble  and  Neb 
had  been  cautioned  on  the  subject,  than  he  again  took  my 
hand,  and  welcomed  me  to  his  ship.  The  mate  was  sent 
into  the  gun-room,  and  recommended  to  the  hospitality  of 
the  lieutenants ;  while  Neb  was  placed  in  the  care  of  the 
cabin  servants.  A  short  consultation  was  then  held  about 
the  boat,  which  it  was  decided  must  be  sent  adrift,  after  its 
effects  were  passed  out  of  it ;  the  Briton  having  no  use  for 
such  a  launch,  nor  any  place  to  stow  it.  I  stood  at  the 
gang-way,  and  looked  with  a  melancholy  eye  at  this  last 
remnant  of  the  Dawn  that  I  ever  beheld  :  a  large  eighty 
thousand  dollars  of  my  property  vanishing  from  the  earth, 
in  the  loss  of  that  ship  and  her  cargo. 


CHAPTEE  XXIV. 

Some  shout  at  victory's  loud  acclaim, 

Some  fall  that  victory  to  assure, 
But  time  divulges  that  in  name, 

Alone,  our  triumphs  are  secure. 

Duo. 

THE  Briton  had  come  out  of  the  Cove  of  Cork,  only  a 
few  days  before,  and  was  bound  on  service,  with  orders  to 
run  off  to  the  westward,  a  few  hundred  miles,  and  to  cruise 
three  months  in  a  latitude  that  might  cover  the  homeward- 
bound  running  ships,  from  the  American  provinces,  of  which 
there  were  many  in  that  early  period  of  the  war.  This 
was  not  agreeable  news  to  us,  who  had  hoped  to  be  landed 


MILES    WALLING  FORD.  323 

somewhere  immediately,  and  who  had  thought,  at  first,  on 
seeing  the  ship  carrying  a  press  of  sail  to  the  westward, 
that  she  might  be  going  to  Halifax.  There  was  no  remedy, 
however,  and  we  were  fain  to  make  the  best  of  circum 
stances.  Captain  Rowley  promised  to  put  us  on  board  the 
first  vessel  that  offered,  and  that  was  as  much  as  we  had  a 
right  to  ask  of  him. 

More  than  two  months  passed  without  the  Briton's  speak 
ing,  or  even  seeing  a  single  sail !  To  these  vicissitudes  is 
the  seaman  subject ;  at  one  time  he  is  in  the  midst  of  craft, 
at  another  the  ocean  seems  deserted  to  himself  alone. 
Captain  Rowley  ascribed  this  want  of  success  to  the  fact 
that  the  war  was  inducing  the  running  ships  to  collect  in 
convoys,  and  that  his  orders  carried  him  too  far  north  to 
permit  his  falling  in  with  the  Americans,  bound  to  and  from 
Liverpool.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  reason,  however, 
the  result  was  the  same  to  us.  After  the  gale  of  the  equinox, 
the  Briton  stood  to  the  southward,  as  far  as  Madeira,  such  a 
change  of  ground  being  included  in  her  instructions ;  and 
thence,  after  cruising  three  weeks  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
that  island,  she  shaped  her  course  for  Plymouth.  In  the 
whole,  the  frigate  had,  at  that  time,  brought-to  and  boarded 
some  thirty  sail,  all  of  whom  were  neutrals,  and  not  one  of 
whom  was  bound  to  a  port  that  would  do  us  any  good.  The 
ship's  water  getting  low,  we  were  now  compelled  to  go  in, 
and,  as  has  been  said,  we  made  sail  to  the  northward.  The 
afternoon  of  the  very  day  the  Briton  left  her  second  cruising 
ground,  a  strange  ship  was  seen  directly  on  our  course, 
which  was  pronounced  to  be  a  frigate,  before  the  sun  set. 

The  Briton  manoeuvred  all  night  to  close  with  the  stranger, 
and  with  success,  as  he  was  only  a  league  distant,  and  a 
very  little  to  windward  of  her,  when  I  went  on  deck  early 
the  next  morning.  1  found  the  ship  clear  for  action,  and  a 
degree  of  animation  pervading  the  vessel,  that  I  had  never 
before  witnessed.  The  people  were  piped  to  breakfast  just 
as  I  approached  the  captain  to  salute  him  with  a  '  good 
morning.' 

"  Good  morning  to  you,  Wall ingford,"  cried  the  old  man, 
in  a  cheerful  way ;  "  you  are  just  in  time  to  take  a  look  at 
yonder  Frenchman  in  his  glory.  Two  hours  hence  I  hope 
he  'II  not  appear  quite  as  much  of  a  beau  as  he  is  at  thit 


324  MILES     WALLINGFOKX*. 

moment.     She 's  a  noble  craft,  is  she  not,  and  quite  of  OUT 
own  force." 

"  As  for  the  last,  sir,"  I  answered,  •*  there  does  not  seem 
much  to  choose — she  is  what  you  call  a  thirty-eight,  and 
mounts  fifty  guns,  I  dare  say.  Is  she  certainly  French  ?" 

"  As  certainly  as  this  ship  is  English.  She  can  do  no 
thing  with  our  signals,  and  her  rig  is  a  character  for  her. 
Whoever  saw  an  Englishman  with  such  royal-masts  and 
yards?  So,  Master  Wallingford,  you  must  consent  to  take 
your  breakfast  an  hour  earlier  than  common,  or  go  with 
out  it,  altogether.  Ah — here  is  the  steward  to  say  it  waits 
for  us." 

I  followed  Captain  Rowley  to  the  cabia,  where  I  found  he 
had  sent  for  Marble,  to  share  our  meal.  The  kind-hearted 
old  gentleman  seemed  desirous  of  adding  this  act  of  civility 
to  the  hundred  others  that  he  had  already  shown  us.  I 
had  received  much  generous  and  liberal  treatment  from 
Captain  Rowley,  but  never  before  had  he  seemed  so  much 
disposed  to  act  towards  me  as  a  father  would  act  to  a  son 
as  on  that  morning. 

"  I  hope  you  have  done  justice  to  Davis's  cookery,  gentle 
men,"  he  said,  after  the  assault  on  the  eatables  began  to 
abate  a  little  in  ardour,  "  for  this  may  be  the  last  opportu 
nity  that  will  offer  to  enjoy  it.  I  am  an  Englishman,  and 
have  what  I  hope  is  a  humble  confidence  in  the  superiority 
of  an  English  over  a  French  ship ;  but  I  very  well  know 
we  never  get  even  a  French  ship  without  working  for  it ; 
and  yonder  gentleman  may  not  leave  us  any  crockery,  for 
to-morrow.  He  evidently  means  to  fight  us,  and  I  think  will 
do  himself  credit." 

"  I  believe  you  English  always  go  into  action  against  the 
French  with  a  confidence  of  victory,"  I  remarked. 

"  Why,  we  have  brought  our  lads  up  to  that  feeling,  cer 
tainly,  though  I  would  not  have  you  fancy  I  am  quite  of 
that  way  of  thinking.  I  am  too  old,  and  have  seen  too 
much  service,  Wallingford,  not  to  know  that  every  battle  is 
liable  to  accidents  and  vicissitudes.  There  is  some  difference 
in  service,  I  must  suppose,  though  not  half  as  much  in  men 
as  is  vulgarly  imagined.  The  result  is  in  the  hands  of 
God,  and  I  do  think  we  are  fighting  his  battles,  in  this  fear 
ful  war :  therefore,  I  trust  he  will  take  care  of  us." 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  325 

I  was  surprised  to  find  Captain  Rowley,  who  was  usually 
cheerful  and  gay,  talking  in  this  manner;  but  it  did  not  be 
come  me  to  pursue  the  subject.  In  a  minute  or  two,  wo 
rose  from  table,  and  1  heard  the  order  given  to  the  steward 
to  report  to  the  first-lieutenant  as  soon  as  the  table  was 
cleared  away,  that  the  cabin  bulk-heads  might  be  removed. 
Marble  and  I  then  passed  below,  into  a  canvass  berth  that 
had  been  made  for  him,  where  we  could  consult  together 
without  danger  of  interruption.  Just  as  we  reached  tha 
place,  the  drum  beat  to  quarters.  This  carried  nearly  every 
one  else  on  deck,  and  left  us  virtually  alone. 

"Well,  Miles,"  commenced  Marble,  "this  v'y'ge  will 
beat  any  other  of  our  v'y'ges,  and  give  it  fifty.  We  have  been 
twice  captured,  once  wrecked,  have  seen  a  fight,  and  are 
about  to  feel  another.  What  do  you  think  patriotism,  and 
republican  varloo,  require  us  to  do,  in  such  a  crisis?" 

This  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  heard  my  mate  men 
tion  republicanism,  his  habits  being  certainly  as  much  op 
posed  to  liberty,  as  those  of  Napoleon  himself.  Although 
the  reader  probably  will  not  understand  the  drift  of  his 
question,  it  was  not  lost  on  me.  I  answered,  therefore,  like 
one  who  fully  comprehended  him. 

"  I  am  afraid,  Moses,"  said  I,  "  there  is  very  little  repub 
licanism  in  France  just  now,  nor  do  I  know  that  resemblance 
in  governments  makes  nations  friends.  Unless  the  resem 
blance  be  complete,  I  rather  think  they  are  more  disposed 
to  quarrel  about  the  differences,  than  to  allow  the  merits  of 
the  points  of  affinity.  As  between  England  and  France, 
however,  since  we  are  at  peace  with  both,  we  Americans 
have  nothing  to  do  with  their  quarrels." 

"  I  thought  that  would  be  your  idee,  Miles,  and  yet  it 
would  be  awkward  to  be  in  the  midst  of  a  fight,  and  take 
no  part  in  it.  I  'd  give  a  hundred  dollars  to  be  on  board  that 
Frenchman,  this  minute." 

"  Are  you  so  much  in  love  with  defeat,  as  to  wish  to  be 
flogged?" 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  but  it  goes  ag'in  the  grain  to 
take  sides  with  a  John  Bull." 

"  There  is  no  necessity  for  taking  sides  with  either,  though 
we  can  remember  how  these  people  have  saved  our  lives, 
how  kind  they  have  been  to  us,  and  that  we  have  literally 
28 


326  MILES     WALL  ING  FORD. 

lived  three  months  on  their  bounty.  Neb,  I  'm  glad  to  see, 
makes  fair  weather  of  it,  on  the  berth-deck." 

"  Ay,  there  Js  more  in  that  than  you  dream  of,  perhaps. 
Mr.  Clements,  the  first-lieutenant  of  this  ship,  is  a  sly  one ; 
and  he  thinks  more  of  a  good  seaman  than  some  priests  do 
of  piety.  If  I  'm  not  greatly  misled,  he  intends  that  Neb 
shan't  quit  this  ship  till  the  peace." 

"  How !  They  surely  cannot  pretend  that  the  black  is  an 
Englishman?" 

"  There  are  all  kinds  of  Englishmen,  black  and  white, 
when  seamen  grow  scarce.  Hows'ever,  there  is  no  use  in 
looking  out  for  the  worst — we  shall  know  all  about  it,  when 
the  ship  gets  in.  How  are  we  to  behave,  Miles,  in  this  here 
battle?  It  goes  ag'in  my  feelin's  to  help  an  Englishman; 
and  yet  an  old  salt  don't  like  to  keep  under  hatches,  while 
powder  is  burning  on  deck." 

"  It  would  be  wrong  for  either  of  us  to  take  any  part  in 
the  action,  since  we  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  quarrel. 
Still,  we  may  appear  on  deck,  unless  ordered  below ;  and  I 
dare  say  opportunities  will  offer  to  be  of  use,  especially  in 
assisting  the  hurt.  I  shall  go  on  the  quarter-deck,  but  I 
would  advise  you  not  to  go  higher  than  the  gun-deck.  As 
for  Neb,  I  shall  formally  offer  his  services  in  helping  to 
carry  the  wounded  down." 

"  I  understand  you  —  we  shall  all  three  sarve  in  the  hu 
mane  gang  —  well,  when  a  man  has  no  business  with  any 
other,  that  may  be  better  than  none.*  Your  standing  idle  in 
a  fight  must  be  trying  work  !" 

Marble  and  I  conversed  a  little  longer  on  this  subject, 
when  a  gun  fired  from  the  upper-deck  gave  us  notice  that 
the  game  was  about  to  begin.  Each  hastened  to  his  intend 
ed  post  without  more  words.  When  I  reached  the  quarter 
deck,  everything  denoted  the  eve  of  a  combat.  The  ship 
was  under  short  canvass,  the  men  were  at  quarters,  the 
guns  were  cast  loose,  and  were  levelled ;  the  tompions  were 
all  out,  shot  was  distributed  about  the  deck ;  and  here  and 
there  some  old  salt  of  a  captain  might  be  seen  squinting 
along  his  gun,  as  if  impatient  to  begin.  A  silence  like  that 
of  a  deserted  church  reigned  throughout  the  ship.  Had  one 
been  on  board  her  intended  adversary,  at  that  same  instant, 
he  would  have  been  deafened  by  the  clamour,  and  confused 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  327 

with  the  hurried  and  disorderly  manner  in  which  prepara 
tions  that  were  long  before  completed  on  board  the  British, 
were  still  in  progress  on  board  the  Frenchman.  Four  years 
earlier,  the  same  want  of  preparation  had  given  Nelson  his 
great  victory  at  the  Nile.  The  French,  in  order  to  clear 
their  outer  batteries,  had  lumbered  those  in-shore ;  and  when 
half  their  enemies  unexpectedly  passed  inside,  they  found 
their  ships  were  not  prepared  to  fire ;  ships  that  were  vir 
tually  beaten,  before  they  had  discharged  an  effective  shot. 

"  Wallingford,"  said  my  old  friend  the  captain,  as  soon 
as  I  approached  him,  "  you  have  nothing  to  do  here.  It 
would  not  be  proper  for  you  to  take  a  part  in  this  action, 
and  it  would  be  folly  to  expose  yourself  without  an  object." 

"  I  am  quite  aware  of  all  this,  Captain  Rowley,  but  I  have 
thought  your  kindness  to  me  was  so  great  as  to  permit  me 
to  be  a  looker-on.  I  may  be  of  some  service  to  the  wound 
ed,  if  to  nothing  else ;  and  I  hope  you  think  me  too  much 
of  an  officer  to  get  in  the  way." 

"  I  am  not  certain,  sir,  I  ought  to  permit  anything  of  the 
sort,"  returned  the  old  man,  gravely.  "  This  fighting  is 
serious  business,  and  no  one  should  meddle  with  it  whose 
duty  does  not  command  it  of  him.  See  here,  sir,"  pointing 
at  the  French  frigate,  which  was  about  two  cable's-lengths 
distant,  with  her  top-gallant-sails  clewed  up  and  the  courses 
in  the  brails ;  "  in  ten  minutes  we  shall  be  hard  at  it,  and  I 
leave  it  to  yourself  to  say  whether  prudence  does  not  require 
that  you  should  go  below." 

I  had  expected  this ;  and,  instead  of  contesting  the  mat 
ter,  I  bowed,  and  walked  off  the  quarter-deck,  as  if  about 
to  comply.  "  Out  of  sight,  out  of  mind,"  I  thought ; — it 
would  be  time  enough  to  go  below,  when  I  had  seen  the  be 
ginning  of  the  affair !  In  the  waist  I  passed  the  marines, 
drawn  up  in  military  array,  with  their  officer  as  attentive 
to  dressing  them  in  line  as  if  the  victory  depended  on  its 
accuracy.  On  the  forecastle  I  found  Neb,  with  his  hands 
in  his  pockets,  watching  the  manoeuvres  of  the  French  as 
the  cat  watches  those  of  the  mouse.  The  fellow's  eye  was 
alive  with  interest ;  and  I  saw  it  was  useless  to  think  of 
sending  him  below.  As  for  the  officers,  they  had  taken  their 
cue  from  the  captain,  and  only  smiled  good-naturedly  as  I 
passed  them.  The  first-lieutenant,  however,  was  an  excep- 


328  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

tion.  He  never  had  appeared  well-disposed  towards  us,  and, 
I  make  no  doubt,  had  I  not  been  so  hospitably  taken  into 
the  cabin,  we  should  all  have  got  an  earlier  taste  of  hia 
humour. 

"  There  is  too  much  good  stuff  in  that  fellow,"  he  drily 
remarked,  in  passing,  pointing  towards  Neb  at  the  same 
time,  "  for  him  to  be  doing  nothing,  at  a  moment  like 
this." 

"  We  are  neutrals,  as  respects  France,  Mr.  Clements,"  1 
answered,  "  and  it  would  not  be  right  for  us  to  take  part  in 
your  quarrels.  I  will  not  hesitate  to  say,  however,  that  I 
have  received  so  much  kindness  on  board  the  Briton,  that  I 
should  feel  miserable  in  not  being  permitted  to  share  your 
danger.  Something  may  turn  up,  that  will  enable  me  to  be 
of  assistance — ay,  and  Neb,  too." 

The  man  gave  me  a  keen  look,  muttered  something  be 
tween  his  teeth,  and  walked  aft,  whither  he  was  proceeding 
when  we  met.  I  looked  in  the  direction  in  which  he  went, 
and  could  see  he  was  speaking  in  a  surly  way  to  Captain 
Rowley.  The  old  gentleman  cast  a  look  forward,  shook  a 
finger  at  me,  then  smiled  in  his  benevolent  way,  and  turned, 
as  I  thought,  to  look  for  one  of  the  midshipmen  who  acted 
as  his  aids.  At  that  moment,  the  Frenchman  went  in  stays, 
delivering  his  whole  broadside,  from  aft  forward,  as  the  guns 
bore.  The  shot  told  on  the  British  spars  smartly,  though 
only  two  hulled  her.  As  a  matter  of  course,  this  turned 
the  thoughts  of  Captain  Rowley  to  the  main  business  in 
hand,  and  I  was  forgotten.  As  for  Neb,  he  immediately 
made  himself  useful.  A  shot  cut  the  main-spring-stay,  just 
above  his  head ;  and  before  I  had  time  to  speak,  the  fellow 
seized  a  stopper,  and  caught  one  of  the  ends  of  the  stay, 
applied  the  stopper,  and  was  hard  at  work  in  bringing  the 
rope  into  its  proper  place,  and  in  preparing  it  again  to  bear 
a  strain.  The  boatswain  applauded  his  activity,  sending 
two  or  three  forecastle-men  to  help  him.  From  that  moment, 
Neb  was  as  busy  as  a  bee  aloft,  now  appearing  through 
openings  in  the  smoke,  on  this  yard-arm,  now  on  that,  his 
face  on  a  broad  grin,  whenever  business  of  more  importance 
than  common  was  to  be  done.  The  Briton  might  have  had 
older  and  more  experienced  seamen  at  work  in  her  rigging, 
that  day,  but  not  one  that  was  more  active,  more  ready 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  329 

when  told  what  to  do,  or  more  athletic.  The  gaite  de  c&ur 
with  which  this  black  exerted  himself  in  the  midst  of  that 
scene  of  strife,  clamour  and  bloodshed,  has  always  presented 
itself  to  my  mind  as  truly  wonderful. 

Captain  Rowley  did  not  alter  his  course,  or  fire  a  gun,  in 
answer  to  the  salute  he  received,  though  the  two  ships  were 
scarcely  a  cable's-length  asunder  when  the  Frenchman 
began.  The  Briton  stood  steadily  on,  and  the  two  ships 
passed  each  other,  within  pistol-shot,  a  minute  or  two  later, 
when  we  let  fly  ail  our  larboard  guns.  This  was  the  be 
ginning  of  the  real  war,  and  warm  enough  it  was,  for  half 
an  hour  or  more, — our  ship  coming  round  as  soon  as  she 
had  fired,  when  the  two  frigates  closed  broadside  and  broad 
side,  both  running  off  nearly  dead  before  the  wind.  I  do 
not  know  how  it  happened,  but  when  the  head-yards  were 
swung,  I  found  myself  pulling  at  the  fore-brace,  like  a  dray 
horse.  The  master's  male,  who  commanded  these  braces, 
thanked  me  for  my  assistance,  in  a  cheerful  voice,  saying, 
"  We  '11  thrash  'em  in  an  hour,  Captain  Wallingford."  This 
was  the  first  consciousness  I  had,  that  my  hands  had  entered 
into  the  affair  at  all ! 

I  had  now  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining  what  a  very 
different  thing  it  is  to  be  a  spectator  in  such  a  scene,  from 
being  an  actor.  Ashamed  of  the  forgetfulness  that  had  sent 
me  to  the  brace,  I  walked  on  the  quarter-deck,  where  blood 
was  already  flowing  freely.  Everybody,  but  myself,  was 
at  work,  for  life  or  death.  In  1803,  that  mongrel  gun,  the 
carronade,  had  come  into  general  use,  and  those  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  the  Briton  were  beginning  to  fly  round  and 
look  their  owners  in  the  face,  when  they  vomited  their  con 
tents,  as  they  grew  warm  with  the  explosion.  Captain  Row 
ley,  Clements,  and  the  master,  were  all  here,  the  first  and 
last  attending  to  the  trimming  of  the  sails,  while  the  first- 
lieutenant  looked  a  little  after  the  battery,  and  a  little  at 
everything  else.  Scarce  a  minute  passed,  that  shot  did  not 
strike  somewhere,  though  it  was  principally  aloft ;  and  the 
wails  of  the  hurt,  the  revolting  part  of  every  serious  com 
bat,  began  to  mingle  in  the  roar  of  the  contest.  The  Eng 
lish,  I  observed,  fought  sullenly,  though  they  fought  with 
all  their  hearts.  Occasionally,  a  cheer  would  arise  in  some 
part  of  the  ship ;  but  these,  and  the  cries  of  the  hurt,  were 
28* 


330  MILES    WALLING  FORD. 

almost  all  the  sounds  that  were  heard,  except  those  of  the 
conflict,  with  an  occasional  call,  or  a  word  of  encourage 
ment  from  some  officer. 

"  Warm  work,  Wallingford !"  Captain  Rowley  said,  as  1 
came  close  upon  him  in  the  smoke.  "  You  have  no  busi 
ness  here,  but  I  like  to  see  the  face  of  a  friend,  notwithstand 
ing.  You  have  been  looking  about  you  ;  how  do  you  think 
it  is  going  ?" 

"  This  ship  will — must  beat,  Captain  Rowley.  Her  order 
and  regularity  are  most  beautiful." 

"Ay— I'm  glad  to  hear  you  say  as  much,  Wallingford, 
for  I  know  you  are  a  seaman.  Just  go  down  on  the  gun- 
deck  and  cast  an  eye  around  you  ;  then  come  up,  and  tell 
me  how  things  look  there." 

Here  I  was,  fairly  enlisted  as  an  aid.  Down  I  went,  how 
ever,  and  such  a  scene,  I  never  had  witnessed  before,  cer 
tainly.  Although  the  season  had  well  advanced  into  the 
autumn,  the  weather  was  so  warm,  that  half  the  men  had 
stripped  for  the  toil — and  toil  it  is,  to  work  heavy  guns, 
for  hours  at  a  time,  under  the  excitement  of  battle ;  a  toil 
that  may  not  be  felt  at  the  time,  perhaps,  but,  which  leaves 
a  weariness  like  that  of  disease  behind  it.  Many  of  the 
seamen  fought  in  their  trousers  alone;  their  long,  hard, 
cues  lying  on  their  naked  backs,  which  resembled  those  of 
so  many  athletse,  prepared  for  the  arena.  The  gun-deck 
was  full  of  smoke,  the  priming  burned  in-board  producing 
that  effect,  though  the  powder  which  exploded  in  the  guns 
was  sent,  with  its  flames  and  sulphurous  wreaths,  in  long 
lines  from  the  ports  towards  the  enemy.  The  place  appear 
ed  a  sort  of  pandemonium  to  me.  I  could  perceive  men 
moving  about  in  the  smoke,  rammers  and  sponges  whirl 
ing  in  their  hands,  guns  reeling  inward,  ay,  even  leaping 
from  the  deck,  under  the  violence  of  the  recoils ;  officers 
signing  with  their  swords  to  add  emphasis  to  their  orders, 
boys  running  to  and  fro  on  their  way  to  and  from  the  mag 
azines,  shot  tossed  from  hand  to  hand,  and  to  give  its  fiercest 
character  to  all,  the  dead  and  dying  weltering  in  their  blood, 
amid-ships. 

Of  the  mano3uvres  of  this  combat,  I  know  scarcely  any 
thing.  My  attention  was  drawn  in-board  ;  for  having  no 
thing  to  do,  I  could  not  but  watch  the  effect  of  the  enemy's 


MILES   WALLINOFORD.  331 

fire  on  the  Briton,  as  well  as  the  manner  in  which  the  Eng 
lish  repaid  all  they  received.  While  standing  near  the  main 
mast,  in  the  battery  that  was  not  engaged,  Marble  made  me 
out  in  the  smoke,  and  came  up  to  speak  to  me. 

"  Them  Frenchmen  are  playing  their  parts  like  men,"  he 
said.  "  There 's  a  shot  just  gone  through  the  cook's  coppers, 
and  another  through  the  boats.  By  the  Lord  Harry,  if  the 
boys  on  this  deck  do  not  bestir  themselves,  we  shall  get 
licked.  I  would  n't  be  licked  by  a  Frenchman  on  any 
account,  Miles. — Even  little  Kitty  would  point  her  finger  at 
*ne." 

"  We  are  only  passengers,  you  know,  Moses ;  and  can 
have  little  concern  with  victory,  or  defeat,  so  long  as  the 
striped  and  starred  bunting  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  credit 
of  the  thing." 

"  I  am  not  so  sure  of  that,  Miles. — I  do  not  like  being 
flogged,  even  as  a  passenger.  There!  just  look  at  that, 
now  !  Two  or  three  more  such  raps,  and  half  our  guns  will 
be  silenced !" 

Two  shot  had  come  in  together,  as  Marble  thus  interrupted 
himself;  one  of  them  knocking  away  the  side  of  a  port, 
while  the  other  laid  four  men  of  its  gun  on  the  deck.  This 
gun  was  on  the  point  of  being  discharged,  as  the  injury  was 
inflicted ;  but  the  loss  of  its  captain  prevented  it  from  being 
fired.  The  lieutenant  of  the  division  caught  the  match  from 
the  fallen  seaman,  gave  it  a  puff  with  his  breath,  and  applied 
it  to  the  priming.  As  the  gun  came  leaping  in;  the  lieu 
tenant  turned  his  head  to  see  where  he  could  best  find  men 
to  supply  the  place  of  those  who  had  been  killed,  or  wounded. 
His  eyes  fell  on  us.  He  asked  no  questions ;  but  merely 
looked  in  our  direction. 

"  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  said  Marble,  stripping  off  his  jacket,  and 
taking  the  tobacco  from  his  mouth.  "  In  one  moment.— 
Just  hold  on,  till  I  'm  ready." 

I  scarce  knew  whether  to  remonstrate,  or  not :  but  hard 
at  it  he  went ;  and,  delighted  by  his  zeal,  the  officer  clapped 
him  on  the  back,  leaving  him  to  act  as  captain  of  the  gun. 
Afraid  the  contagion  might  extend  to  myself,  I  turned, 
ascended  the  ladder,  and  was  immediately  on  the  quarter 
deck  again.  Here  I  found  old  Captain  Rowley,  with  his  hat 
off,  cheering  his  men, —  the  Frenchman's  main-top-mast 


332  MILES  WALLINOFORD. 

having  just  gone  over  his  side.  It  was  not  a  time  to  mako 
my  report,  noi  was  any  needed  just  then ;  so  I  walked  aft 
as  far  as  the  taffrail,  in  order  to  get  out  of  the  way,  and  to 
make  my  observations  as  much  removed  from  the  smoke  as 
possible.  This  was  the  only  opportunity  I  enjoyed  of  noting 
the  relative  positions,  as  well  as  conditions,  of  the  two 
vessels. 

The  Briton  had  suffered  heavily  aloft ;  but  all  her  princi 
pal  spars  still  stood.  On  the  other  hand,  her  antagonist  had 
lost  both  main  and  mizen-top-masts,  and  her  fire  had  mate* 
rially  slackened  within  the  last  fifteen  minutes.  She  was 
falling  more  under  a  quarter-raking  fire,  too,  from  her  peo 
ple's  losing  command  of  their  ship ;  the  two  frigates  having, 
some  time  before,  come  by  the  wind — the  Englishman  a 
little  on  the  Frenchman's  weather-quarter.  As  is  usual,  in 
a  heavy  cannonade  and  a  moderate  breeze,  the  wind  had 
died  away,  or  become  neutralized,  by  the  concussions  of  the 
guns,  and  neither  combatant  moved  much  from  the  position 
he  occupied.  Still  the  Briton  had  her  yards  knowingly 
braced,  while  those  of  her  enemy  were  pretty  much  at  sixes 
and  sevens.  Under  such  circumstances,  it  was  not  difficult 
to  predict  the  result  of  the  engagement ;  more  especially  as 
the  spirits  of  the  Britons  seemed  to  be  rising  with  the  dura 
tion  of  the  combat. 

I  was  still  making  my  observations,  when  I  heard  the 
crack  of  a  shot,  and  the  ripping  of  plank,  on  the  forward 
part  of  the  quarter-deck.  A  little  group  collected  around  a 
falling  man,  and  I  thought  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  Captain 
Rowley's  uniform  and  epaulettes,  in  the  sufferer.  In  an  in 
stant  I  was  on  the  spot.  Sure  enough,  there  was  my  old 
friend  grievously  wounded.  Clements  was  also  there. 
Catching  my  eye,  he  observed— 

"  As  you  are  doing  nothing,  sir,  will  you  assist  in  carry- 
•ng  Captain  Rowley  below  ?" 

I  did  not  like  the  manner  in  which  this  was  said,  nor  the 
expression  of  the  first-lieutenant's  eye  while  saying  it. 
They  seemed  to  me  to  add,  "  I  shall  now  command  this 
ship,  and  we  shall  see  if  new  lords  don't  produce  new  laws." 
I  complied,  however,  of  course,  and,  aided  by  two  of  his 
own  servants,  I  got  the  poor  old  man  into  the  gun-room. 
The  instant  the  surgeon  cast  his  eyes  on  the  injuries,  I  saw 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  333 

by  his  countenance,  there  was  no  hope.     His  words  soon 
confirmed  the  bad  news. 

"  The  captain  cannot  live  half  an  hour,"  this  gentleman 
said  to  me  aside,  "  and  all  we  can  do  will  be  to  give  him 
what  he  asks  for.  At  present  he  is  stupified  by  the  shock 
of  the  blow,  but,  in  a  few  minutes,  he  will  probably  ask  for 
water,  or  wine  and  water ;  I  wish,  sir,  you  would  indulge 
him  in  his  wishes,  for  you  can  have  no  duty  to  call  you  on 
deck.  This  will  be  a  lucky  hit  for  Clements,  who  will  run 
off  with  more  than  half  the  credit  of  the  battle,  though  I 
fancy  the  Frenchman  has  as  much  as  he  wants  already." 

And  so  it  turned  out,  literally,  in  the  end.  About  twenty 
minutes  after  I  went  below,  during  which  time  the  Briton 
did  most  of  the  fighting,  we  heard  the  cheer  of  victory  on 
deck.  These  sounds  appeared  to  cause  the  wounded  man 
to  revive. 

"  What  means  that,  Wallingford  ?"  he  asked  in  a  stronger 
voice  than  I  could  have  thought  it  possible  for  him  to  use, 
"  What  do  these  cheers  mean,  my  young  friend  ?" 

"  They  mean,  Captain  Rowley,  that  you  have  conquered 
—that  you  are  master  of  the  French  frigate." 

"  Master  ! — am  I  master  of  my  own  life  ?  Of  what  use 
is  victory  to  me,  now  ?  I  shall  die — die  soon,  Wallingford, 
and  there  will  be  an  end  of  it,  all !  My  poor  wife  will 
call  this  a  melancholy  victory." 

Alas!  what  I  could  say?  These  words  were  only  too 
true  as  respects  himself,  and,  I  dare  say,  as  respected  his 
wife,  also.  Die  he  did,  and  in  my  presence,  and  that 
calmly,  with  all  his  senses  about  him ;  but,  I  could  see,  he 
had  his  doubts  whether  a  little  lustre  like  that  which  at 
tended  his  end,  was  fulfilling  all  the  objects  of  his  being. 
The  near  view  of  death  places  a  man  on  a  moral  eminence, 
whence  he  commands  prospects  before  and  behind,  on  each 
side  and  on  every  side,  enabling  him  to  overlook  the  whole 
scene  of  life  from  its  commencement  to  its  close,  and  to  form 
an  opinion  of  his  own  place  in  a  drama  that  is  about  to 
close.  Like  many  of  those  who  exhibit  themselves  for  our 
amusement,  and  to  purchase  our  applause,  he  is  only  too 
apt  to  quit  the  stage  less  satisfied  with  his  own  performances, 
than  the  thoughtless  multitude,  who,  regarding  merely  the 


334  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

surfaces  of  things,  are  too  often  loudest  in  their  approbation 
when  there  is  the  least  to  praise. 

I  shall  pass  over  the  next  ten  days,  with  a  very  brief  allu 
sion  to  their  events.  The  first  proof  I  had  of  Mr.  Clements 
being  commanding  officer,  was  my  being  transferred  from 
the  cabin  to  the  gun-room.  It  is  true,  there  was  no  want  of 
space  in  my  new  apartment,  for  officering  and  manning  the 
prize  had  left  several  state-rooms  vacant  in  the  Briton's 
gun-room,  which  fell  to  the  shares  of  the  French  prisoners 
and  myself.  Poor  Captain  Rowley  was  preserved  in  spirits^ 
and  then  things  went  on  pretty  much  as  before,  with  the 
exception  that  our  crippled  condition  and  reduced  crew  ren 
dered  us  no  longer  anxious  to  fall  in  with  Frenchmen.  I 
may  say,  in  this  place,  also,  that  now  the  excitement  which 
had  carried  him  away  was  gone,  Marble  was  profoundly 
ashamed  of  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  late  affair.  He 
had  fought  under  English  colours,  once  more ;  and,  though 
I  seldom  dared  to  allude  to  the  thing,  it  is  my  opinion  he 
heartily  regretted  his  conduct,  to  his  dying  day.  As  for 
Neb,  all  seemed  right  enough  in  his  eyes ;  for,  though  he 
well  understood  the  distinctions  between  flags  and  coun 
tries,  he  always  imagined  it  a  duty  to  stick  by  the  craft  in 
which  he  happened  to  be. 

Ten  days  after  I  had  been  living  under  the  regime  of 
"  new  lords  and  new  laws,"  we  fell  in  with  a  frigate,  in  the 
chops  of  the  channel,  and  exchanged  signals  with  her.  The 
reader  will  judge  of  Marble's  and  my  dissatisfaction,  when 
we  heard  it  announced  that  the  ship  which  was  then  fast 
approaching  us,  was  the  Speedy.  There  was  no  help  for  it, 
however ;  she  was  already  within  gun-shot,  and  soon  round- 
ed-to,  within  hail  of  the  Briton,  which  ship  had  hove-to,  to 
wait  for  her.  In  a  few  minutes,  Lord  Harry  Dermond,  in 
person,  was  alongside  of  us,  in  a  boat,  to  show  his  orders 
to  Captain  Rowley,  and  report  himself,  as  the  junior  cap 
tain.  I  could  not  quit  the  quarter-deck,  from  a  desire  to 
ascertain,  if  possible,  what  had  become  of  Sennit  and  his 
companions,  though  prudence  dictated  concealment. 

Clements  met  the  young  nobleman  at  the  gangway,  and, 
apologizing  for  not  going  on  board  the  Speedy,  on  account 
of  the  state  of  his  boats,  reported  the  late  action  and  its  re 
sults.  Lord  Harry  then  found  himself  the  senior,  instead 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  335 

of  the  junior  commander,  and  he  immediately  began  to  ask 
questions.  He  was  in  the  midst  of  these  interrogatories, 
when  his  eye  suddenly  fell  on  me.  He  and  Clements  were 
walking  on  the  quarter-deck  together,  and  I  had  gone  into  the 
gangway,  to  escape  his  notice,  when  this  unexpected  recog 
nition  took  place.  It  occurred  as  the  two  were  turning  in 
their  walk,  and  were  so  near  me  that  I  could  hear  what  was 
said  between  them. 

"  Who  have  you  there,  leaning  against  the  cutter,  Mr. 
Clements  ?"  demanded  the  captain  of  the  Speedy.  "  It 's  a 
face  I  know — some  old  ship-mate  of  mine,  I  fancy." 

"  I  rather  think  not,  my  lord — it 's  a  Yankee  we  picked 
up  at  sea  in  a  boat,  a  Captain  Wallingford,  of  the  American 
ship  Dawn.  His  vessel  foundered  in  a  gale,  and  all  hands 
were  lost  but  this  gentleman,  his  mate,  and  a  negro.  We 
have  had  them  on  board,  now,  more  than  three  months." 

A  long,  low  whistle  escaped  from  Lord  Harry  Dermond, 
who  immediately  walked  up  to  me,  raised  his  hat,  and  com 
menced  a  very  disagreeable  sort  of  a  dialogue,  by  saying — • 

"  Your  servant,  Mr.  Wallingford !  We  meet  under  very 
unusual  circumstances,  and  somewhat  often.  The  last  time 
was  at  a  rather  interesting  moment  to  me,  and  one  in  which 
I  was  so  much  engaged,  that  I  had  not  leisure  properly  to 
pay  my  respects  to  you.  Mr.  Clements,  I  have  a  little  busi 
ness  to  transact  with  this  gentleman,  and  must  ask  the 
favour  of  your  company  and  his,  for  a  few  minutes,  in  your 
cabin." 

No  objection  could  be  raised  to  this  request ;  and  I  fol 
lowed  the  two  officers  into  the  Briton's  cabin. 


336  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

•'•O  I  hae  scarce  to  lay  me  on, 
If  kingly  fields  were  ance  my  ain ; 
Wi'  the  moor-cock  on  the  mountain-bree, 
But  hardship  na'er  can  daunton  me." 

SCOTTISH  SONO. 

THERE  was  an  air  of  cool  deliberation  about  Lord  Harry 
Dermond,  which  satisfied  me  I  should  have  to  pass  through 
a  trying  ordeal ;  and  I  prepared  myself  for  the  occasion. 
Nothing  was  said  until  all  three  of  us  were  in  the  after- 
cabin,  when  Clements  and  his  visiter  took  seats  on  the  sofa, 
and  a  motion  was  made  to  me  to  occupy  a  chair.  Then 
Lord  Harry  Dermond  commenced  the  discourse,  in  a  man 
ner  more  serious  than  I  could  have  wished. 

"  Mr.  Wallingford,"  he  said,  "  there  is  little  need  of  pre 
liminaries  between  you  and  me.  I  recollected  your  ship, 
when  the  Black  Prince  and  Speedy  were  in  the  act  of  closing 
with  the  Frenchmen,  three  months  since ;  and  I  need  scarcely 
say  that  the  manner  in  which  she  got  back  to  the  place 
where  I  then  saw  her,  requires  an  explanation  at  your 
hands." 

"  It  shall  be  given  to  you,  my  lord.  Believing  you  had 
no  right  to  send  in  the  Dawn,  and  knowing  that  a  detention 
of  any  length  would  prove  my  ruin,  I  regained  possession 
of  my  own  by  the  best  means  that  offered." 

"  This  is  at  least  frank,  sir.  You  mean  to  be  understood 
that  you  rose  on  my  people  in  the  night,  murdered  them, 
and  that  you  subsequently  lost  your  vessel  from  a  want  of 
force  to  take  care  of  her." 

"  This  is  partly  true,  and  partly  a  mistake.  I  certainly 
should  not  have  lost  my  ship  had  I  been  as  strong-handed 
in  the  gale  in  which  she  was  destroyed,  as  she  was  the  day 
ehe  left  home  :  and  she  would  have  been  as  strong-handed 
in  that  gale,  had  we  never  fallen  in  with  the  Speedy." 

"  Which  is  an  indirect  manner  of  saying  that  the  wreck 
was  owing  to  us  ?" 

"  I  shall  very  directly  say,  that  I  think  it  was ;  though  by 
indirect  means." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  337 

**  Well,  sir,  on  that  point  it  is  not  probable  we  shall  ever 
agree.  You  cannot  suppose  that  the  servants  of  the  king 
of  Great  Britain  will  submit  to  your  American  mode  of 
construing  public  law  ;  but  will  easily  understand  that  we 
leave  such  matters  to  our  own  admiralty  judges.  It  is  a 
matter  of  more  moment  to  me,  just  now,  to  ascertain  what 
has  become  of  the  officers  and  men  that  were  put  in  charge 
of  your  ship.  I  saw  the  vessel,  some  time  after  I  put  Mr. 
Sennit  and  his  party  on  board  you,  in  your  possession,  (thai 
we  ascertained  by  means  of  our  glasses ;)  and  you  now 
admit  that  you  retook  your  vessel  from  these  men.  What 
has  become  of  the  prize-crew  ?" 

I  briefly  related  the  manner  in  which  we  had  regained  the 
possession  of  the  Dawn.  The  two  English  officers  listened 
attentively,  and  I  could  discern  a  smile  of  incredulity  on  the 
countenance  of  Clements ;  while  the  captain  of  the  Speedy 
seemed  far  from  satisfied — though  he  was  not  so  much  dis 
posed  to  let  his  real  opinion  be  known. 

"  This  is  a  very  well-concocted  and  well-told  tale,  my 
lord,"  said  the  first,  with  a  sneer ;  "  but  I  doubt  whether  it 
find  many  believers  in  the  British  service." 

"  The  British  service,  sir,"  I  coldly  retorted,  "  is,  like  all 
others,  liable  to  reverses  and  accidents." 

"  Not  exactly  of  this  nature,  Mr.  Wallingford,  you  will 
yourself  admit,  on  reflection.  But  I  beg  pardon,  my  lord : 
this  is  your  affair — not  mine;  and  I  have  been  indiscreet  in 
speaking." 

Lord  Harry  Dermond  looked  as  if  he  concurred  in  this 
sentiment.  He  had  the  pride  of  official  rank,  and  that  of 
private  rank,  to  the  usual  degree ;  and  did  not  exactly  like 
the  notion  that  one  so  much  his  inferior  in  both  should  take 
an  affair  so  peculiarly  his  own  out  of  his  hands.  He  made 
a  cold  acknowledging  bow,  therefore,  in  reply,  and  paused 
a  moment,  like  a  man  who  reflected,  ere  he  continued  the 
discourse. 

"  You  must  be  aware,  Mr.  Wallingford,  it  is  my  duty  to 
inquire  closely  into  this  matter,"  he  at  length  resumed.  "  I 
am  just  out  of  port,  where  my  ship  has  been  lying  to  refit, 
several  weeks,  and  it  is  not  probable  that  either  of  my  offi 
cers  would  be  in  England  without  reporting  himself,  had  bo 
reached  home." 
29 


338  JULES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  It  is  quite  probable,  my  lord,  that  neither  has  reached 
home.  I  saw  them  picked  up,  with  my  own  eyes,  and  by 
what  appeared  to  me  to  be  an  outward-bound  West  India- 
man.  In  that  case,  they  have,  most  probably,  all  been  car 
ried  to  one  of  the  West  India  islands." 

Here  Clements  handed  Lord  Harry  Desmond  a  paper 
with  something  written  on  it,  in  pencil,  which  the  latter 
read.  After  running  his  eyes  over  it,  the  captain  nodded 
his  head,  and  the  lieutenant  quitted  the  cabin.  While  he 
was  absent,  my  companion,  in  a  polite  manner,  gave  me  the 
particulars  of  the  combat  I  had  witnessed,  going  so  far  as  to 
direct  my  attention  to  a  paper  he  had  brought  on  board,  to 
show  to  Captain  Rowley,  and  which  contained  the  English 
official  account  of  the  whole  affair.  On  glancing  at  it,  I 
saw  that  the  presence  of  the  Dawn,  on  that  occasion,  was 
mentioned  in  ihe  report ;  the  name  of  the  ship  being  given, 
with  an  allusion  that  was  not  very  clear  to  the  general 
reader,  but  which  was  plain  enough  to  me.  It  was  not 
long,  however,  before  Clements  returned,  and,  without  much 
ceremony,  he  informed  me  that  the  gun-room  mess  waited 
my  appearance  to  sit  down  to  dinner.  On  this  hint,  I  rose 
and  took  my  leave,  though  I  had  time  to  see  Marble  enter 
the  cabin,  and  Neb  standing  by  the  scuttle-butt,  under  the 
charge  of  the  sentinel,  ere  I  dipped  my  head  under  hatches. 

The  dinner  lasted  near  an  hour,  and  Lord  Harry  Der- 
mond  civilly  waited  all  that  time,  before  he  again  summoned 
me  to  the  cabin.  I  was  surprised  to  find  Marble  in  the 
outer-cabin,  Neb  near  the  door,  in  waiting,  and  the  two 
officers  with  pen,  ink,  and  paper  before  them,  where  they 
had  been  left  by  me. 

"  Mr.  Wallingford,"  Lord  Harry  commenced,  "  I  hold  it 
to  be  no  more  than  fair  to  let  you  know  that  your  mate's 
account  of  the  manner  in  which  the  Speedy's  people  got  out 
of  the  Dawn,  and  your  own,  do  not  agree  in  a  single  parti 
cular.  Here  is  his  statement,  taken  down  by  myself  from 
his  own  words ;  if  you  are  disposed  to  hear  it,  I  will  read 
you  what  he  says." 

"  I  do  not  well  see  how  Mr.  Marble  can  contradict  me 
and  tell  the  truth,  my  lord — but  it  were  better  I  should  hear 
his  statement." 

«'  •  I  was  first-mate  of  the  Dawn,  of  New  York,  Miles  Wai- 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  339 

ingford  master  and  owner.  Captured  and  ordered  in  by 
Speedy,  as  known.  Three  days  after  parting  company  with 
the  frigate,  with  Mr.  Sennit  as  prize-master,  Captain  Wal- 
lingford  and  I  commenced  reasoning  with  that  gentleman  on 
the  impropriety  of  sending  in  a  neutral  and  breaking  up  a 
promising  voyage,  which  so  overcame  the  said  Lieutenant 
Sennit,  in  his  mind,  that  he  consented  to  take  the  ship's 
yawl,  with  a  suitable  stock  of  provisions  and  water,  and 
give  us  up  the  ship.  Accordingly,  the  boat  was  lowered, 
properly  stowed,  the  most  tender  anxiety  manifested  for  the 
party  that  was  to  go  in  her,  when  the  English  took  their 
leave  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  and  hearty  good  wishes  for 
our  safe  arrival  at  Hamburg.' " 

*'  Am  I  to  understand  you  seriously,  Lord  Harry  Der- 
mond,  that  my  mate  has  actually  given  you  this  account  of 
the  affair,  for  fact?" 

"  Most  seriously,  sir.  I  believe  he  even  offered  to  swear 
to  it,  though  I  dispensed  with  that  ceremony.  Here  is  the 
statement  of  the  black.  Perhaps  you  would  wish  to  hear 
that  also?" 

"  Anything,  my  lord,  it  is  your  pleasure  to  communi 
cate." 

"  Nebuchadnezzar  Clawbonny  says,  *  he  belonged  to  the 
Dawn — was  left  in  her,  when  captured  by  Speedy,  and  was 
in  her  when  wrecked.  Captain  Wallingford  ordered  Mr. 
Sennit  to  quit  his  ship,  or  he  would  make  him ;  and  Mr. 
Sennit  obeyed  Master  Miles,  of  course.'  But  I  will  read  no 
more  of  this,  as  a  slave's  statement  can  hardly  be  relied  on. 
Perhaps  we  ought  not  to  have  received  it,  Mr.  Clements?" 

"Your  pardon,  my  lord;  it  is  our  duty  to  protect  his 
Majesty's  subjects,  in  the  best  mode  we  can." 

"  That  may  be  true,  sir ;  but  certain  great  principles 
ought  never  to  be  overlooked,  even  when  doing  our  duty. 
You  perceive,  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  your  companions  con 
tradict  your  own  account  of  this  affair ;  and  the  most  un 
pleasant  suspicions  are  awakened.  I  should  never  justify 
myself  to  my  superiors,  were  I  to  neglect  putting  you  under 
arrest,  and  carrying  you  all  in  for  trial." 

"  If  my  companions  have  been  so  ill-judging  as  to  make 
the  statements  you  say,  I  can  only  regret  it.  I  have  told 
you  the  truth ;  and  I  can  add  no  more.  As  for  the  future^ 


340  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

I  do  not  suppose  any  representation  of  mine  will  induce  you 
to  change  your  decision." 

"  You  carry  it  off  well,  sir ;  and  I  hope  you  will  maintain 
the  same  appearance  of  innocence  to  the  end.  The  lives 
of  the  king's  subjects  are  not  to  be  taken,  with  impunity, 
nevertheless." 

"  Nor  is  the  property  of  an  American  citizen,  I  trust,  my 
lord.  Had  I  used  force  to  regain  my  ship,  and  had  I  thrown 
the  prize-crew  into  the  sea,  I  conceive  I  would  have  been 
doing  no  more  than  was  my  duty." 

"  This  is  well,  sir ;  and  I  hope,  for  your  sake,  that  an 
English  jury  will  view  the  affair  in  the  same  light.  At  pre 
sent,  prepare  to  go  on  board  the  Speedy — for  you  must  not 
be  separated  from  the  important  testimony  we  can  find  in 
that  ship.  As  for  the  citizens  you  mention,  they  are  bound 
to  submit  to  the  decision  of  the  admiralty  courts,  and  not  to 
take  the  law  into  their  own  hands." 

"  We  shall  see,  my  lord.  When  this  case  reaches  my 
own  country,  we  shall  probably  hear  more  of  it." 

I  uttered  this  in  a  sufficiently  magnificent  manner ;  and, 
to  own  the  truth,  I  felt  a  little  magnificently  at  the  time.  I 
was  then  young,  not  three-and-twenty ;  and  I  thought  of 
my  country,  her  independence,  her  justice,  her  disposition 
to  do  right,  her  determination  to  submit  to  no  wrongs,  and 
her  disregard  of  the  expedient  when  principles  were  con 
cerned, — much  as  young  people  think  of  the  immaculate 
qualities  of  their  own  parents.  According  to  the  decisions 
of  judges  of  this  latter  class,  there  would  not  be  a  liar,  a 
swindler,  a  cheat,  or  a  mercenary  scoundrel  living;  but  the 
earth  would  be  filled  with  so  many  suffering  saints  that  are 
persecuted  for  their  virtues.  According  to  the  notions  of 
most  American  citizens  of  my  age,  the  very  name  they  bore 
ought  to  be  a  protection  to  them  in  any  part  of  the  world, 
under  the  penalty  of  incurring  the  republic's  just  indigna 
tion.  How  far  my  anticipations  were  realized,  will  be  seen 
in  the  sequel ; — and  I  beg  the  American  reader,  in  particu 
lar,  to  restrain  his  natural  impatience,  until  he  can  learn 
the  facts  in  the  regular  order  of  the  narrative.  I  can  safely 
promise  him,  that  should  he  receive  them  in  the  proper 
spirit,  with  a  desire  to  ascertain  truth  only,  and  not  to  up 
hold  bloated  and  untenable  theories,  he  will  be  a  wiser,  and 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  341 

probably  a  more  modest  man,  for  the  instruction  that  is  to 
be  thus  gleaned  from  the  incidents  it  will  be  my  painful 
office  to  record.  As  for  Lord  Harry  Dermond,  the  threat 
ened  indignation  of  the  great  American  nation  gave  him 
very  little  concern.  He  probably  cared  a  vast  deal  more 
for  one  frown  from  the  admiral  who  commanded  at  Ply 
mouth,  than  for  the  virtuous  resentment  of  the  President 
and  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America.  I  am  writing 
of  the  close  of  the  year  1803,  it  will  be  remembered; — a 
remote  period  in  the  history  of  the  great  republic ;  though 
I  will  not  take  it  on  myself  to  say  things  have  materi 
ally  altered,  except  it  be  in  the  newspapers,  in  this  particu 
lar  interest.  The  order  to  prepare  to  quit  the  Briton  was 
repeated,  and  I  was  dismissed  to  the  outer  cabin,  where  was 
Marble,  while  Mr.  Clements  attempted  to  shut  the  door  that 
separated  us,  though,  from  some  cause  or  other,  he  did  not 
exactly  effect  his  object.  In  consequence  of  this  neglect,  I 
overheard  the  following  dialogue : 

"  I  hope,  my  lord,"  said  Clements,  "  you  will  not  think 
of  taking  away  the  mate  and  the  black.  They  are  both 
first-rate  men,  and  both  well  affected  to  his  Majesty's  ser 
vice.  The  negro  was  of  great  use  aloft,  during  the  late 
action,  while  the  mate  fought  at  a  gun,  like  a  tiger,  for  the 
better  part  of  an  hour.  We  are  somewhat  short  of  hands, 
and  I  have  counted  on  inducing  both  these  men  to  enter. 
There  is  the  prize-money  for  the  Frenchman  under  our  lee, 
you  know,  my  lord ;  and  I  have  little  doubt  of  succeeding." 

"  I  'm  sorry  duty  compels  me  to  take  all  three,  Clements, 
but  I  '11  bear  what  you  say  in  mind ;  perhaps  we  can  get 
them  to  enter  on  board  the  Speedy.  You  know  it — " 

Here  Mr.  Clements  discovered  that  the  door  was  not  shut, 
and  he  closed  it  tight,  preventing  my  hearing  any  more.  I 
now  turned  to  Marble,  whose  countenance  betrayed  the  self- 
reproach  he  endured,  at  ascertaining  the  injury  he  had  done, 
by  his  ill-judged  artifice.  I  made  no  reproaches,  however, 
but  squeezed  his  hand  in  token  of  my  forgiveness.  The 
poor  fellow,  I  plainly  saw,  had  great  difficulty  in  forgiving 
himself;  though  he  said  nothing  at  the  moment. 

The  conference  between  Lord  Harry  Dermond  and  Mr. 
Clements,  lasted  half  an  hour.  At  the  end  of  that  time, 
both  appeared  in  the  forward  cabin,  and  I  saw  by  the  coun 
ty  * 


342  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

tenance  of  the  last,  that  he  had  failed  in  his  object.  As  for 
us,  we  were  transferred,  with  the  few  articles  we  possessed, 
to  the  Speedy,  on  board  which  ship  our  arrival  made  as 
much  of  a  sensation  as  the  discipline  of  a  man-of-war  would 
permit.  I  was  put  in  irons,  the  moment  we  reached  the 
quarter-deck,  and  placed  under  the  charge  of  a  sentinel 
near  the  cabin-door.  Some  little  attention  was  paid  to  my 
comfort,  it  is  true,  and  a  canvass  screen  was  fitted  for  me, 
behind  which  I  ate  and  slept,  with  some  sort  of  retirement. 
My  irons  were  of  so  large  a  sort,  that  I  found  means  to  take 
them  off,  and  to  put  them  on,  at  pleasure.  I  was  disposed 
to  think  that  the  officers  were  aware  of  the  fact,  and  that 
the  things  were  used  as  much  for  the  sake  of  appearance 
as  for  anything  else.  Apart  from  the  confinement,  and  the 
injury  done  my  affairs,  I  had  no  especial  causes  of  com 
plaint,  though  this  imprisonment  lasted  until  the  month  of 
April  1804,  or  quile  five  months.  During  this  time,  the 
Speedy  arrived  as  far  south  as  the  line ;  then  she  hovered 
about  the  Canaries  and  the  Azores,  on  her  way  homeward, 
looking  in  vain  for  another  Frenchman.  I  was  permitted  to 
take  exercise,  twice  a  day,  once  in  the  gangway,  and  once 
on  the  gun-deck,  and  my  table  was  actually  supplied  from 
the  cabin.  On  no  head,  had  I  any  other  cause  to  complain, 
than  the  fact  that  my  ship  had  been  wrongfully  seized  in 
the  first  place,  and  that  I  was  now  suffering  imprisonment 
for  a  crime — if  crime  indeed  it  would  have  been — that  I  cer 
tainly  had  not  been  obliged  to  commit. 

During  the  five  months  I  thus  remained  a  prisoner  on  the 
gun-deck  of  the  Speedy,  I  never  exchanged  a  syllable  with 
either  Marble  or  Neb.  I  saw  them  both  occasionally,  em 
ployed  on  duty,  like  the  crew,  and  we  often  exchanged  sig 
nificant  looks,  but  never  any  words.  Occasionally  I  had  a 
visit  from  an  officer ;  these  gentlemen  sitting  down  and  con 
versing  with  me,  on  general  topics,  evidently  to  relieve  the 
tedium  of  my  confinement,  without  making  any  allusion  to 
its  cause.  I  cannot  say  that  my  health  suffered,  a  circum 
stance  that  was  probably  owing -to  the  cleanliness  of  the 
ship,  and  the  admirable  manner  in  which  she  wi<s  venti 
lated. 

At  length  we  went  into  port,  carrying  with  us  a  French 
ship  from  one  of  the  islands  to  the  eastward  of  the  Cape,  as  a 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  343 

prize.  The  Speedy  captured  this  vessel,  after  a  smart  chase 
to  the  northward  of  the  Azores,  and  Marble  and  Neb  hav 
ing  volunteered  to  do  so,  were  sent  on  board  her,  as  two  of 
the  prize-crew.  That  day  I  got  a  visit  from  the  purser,  who 
was  the  most  attentive  of  all  my  acquaintances,  and  I  took 
the  liberty  of  asking  him  if  it  were  possible  my  two  ship 
mates  had  entered  into  the  British  service. 

11  Why  not  exactly  that,"  he  said,  "  though  they  seem  to 
like  us,  and  we  think  both  will  ship  rather  than  lose  the 
prize-money  they  might  get,  for  their  services  in  the  Briton. 
Your  old  mate  is  a  prime  fellow,  the  master  tells  me;  but 
my  lord  fancying  we  might  meet  some  French  cruiser  in 
the  chops  of  the  channel,  thought  it  better  to  send  these  two 
chaps  in  the  prize,  lest  they  should  take  the  studs  and  re 
fuse  to  fight  at  the  pinch.  They  have  done  duty,  they  say, 
to  keep  themselves  in  good  health ;  and  we  humour  them, 
to  be  frank  with  you,  under  the  notion  they  may  get  to  like 
us  so  well,  as  not  to  wish  to  quit  us." 

This  gave  me  an  insight  into  the  true  state  of  the  case, 
and  I  felt  much  easier  on  the  subject.  That  Marble  ever 
intended  to  serve  under  the  British  flag,  I  had  not  supposed 
for  a  moment ;  but  I  was  not  sure  that  regret  for  the  blunder 
he  had  already  made,  might  not  lead  him  into  some  new 
mistake  of  equally  serious  import,  under  the  impression  that 
he  was  correcting  the  evil.  As  for  Neb,  I  knew  he  would 
never  desert  me;  and  I  had  not,  from  the  first,  felt  any  other 
concern  on  his  account,  than  an  apprehension  his  ignorance 
might  be  imposed  on. 

The  day  we  anchored  in  Plymouth  sound,  was  thick  and 
drizzling,  with  a  fresh  breeze  at  south-west.  The  ship 
came-to  just  at  sunset,  her  prize  bringing  up  a  short  dis 
tance  in-shore  of  her,  as  I  could  see  from  the  port,  that 
formed  a  sort  of  window  to  my  little  canvass  state-room. 
Just  as  the  ship  was  secured,  Lord  Harry  Dermond  passed 
into  his  cabin,  accompanied  by  his  first-lieutenant,  and  I 
overheard  him  say  to  the  latter — 

"  By  the  way,  Mr.  Powlett,  this  prisoner  must  be  removed 
to  some  other  place  in  the  morning.  Now  we  are  so  near 
the  land,  it  is  not  quite  safe  to  trust  him  at  a  port." 

I  was  still  musing  on  the  purport  of  this  remark,  when  I 
beard  the  noise  of  a  boat  corning  alongside.  Putting  my 


344  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

head  out  of  the  port,  I  could  just  see  that  the  prize-mastei 
of  the  French  ship  had  come  on  board,  and  that  Marble  and 
Neb  were  two  of  the  four  men  who  pulled  the  oars.  Mar- 
ble  saw  me,  and  gave  a  sign  of  recognition,  though  it  was 
so  dark  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  distinguish  objects  at  a 
trifling  distance.  This  sign  I  returned  in  a  significant  man 
ner.  It  was  this  answering  signal  from  me,  that  induced 
my  mate  not  to  quit  the  boat,  and  to  keep  Neb  with  him. 
The  other  two  men  were  so  accustomed  to  do  duty  with  the 
Americans,  that  they  did  not  scruple  to  run  up  the  frigate's 
side,  after  their  officer,  eager  to  get  a  gossip  with  their  old 
mess-mates  on  the  berth-deck.  Almost  at  the  same  instant 
the  officer  of  the  deck  called  out — 

"  Drop  la  Manerve's  boat  astern,  out  of  the  way  of  the 
captain's  gig,  which  will  be  hauling  up  in  a  minute." 

This  was  on  the  larboard  side,  it  is  true ;  but  a  smart  sea 
slapping  against  the  starboard,  Lord  Harry  was  willing  to 
dispense  with  ceremony,  in  order  to  escape  a  wet  jacket. 
I  cannot  tell  the  process  of  reasoning  that  induced  me  to 
take  the  step  I  did ;  it  was,  however,  principally  owing  to 
the  remark  I  had  so  lately  heard,  and  which  brought  all  the 
danger  of  my  position  vividly  to  my  mind.  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  moving  cause,  I  acted  as  follows : 

My  irons  were  slipped,  and  I  squeezed  myself  between 
.he  gun  and  the  side  of  the  port,  where  I  hung  by  my  hands,, 
/against  the  ship's  side.  I  might  be  seen,  or  I  might  not, 
caring  little  for  the  result.  I  was  not  seen  by  any  but  Mar 
ble  and  Neb,  the  former  of  whom  caught  me  by  the  legs, 
as  he  passed  beneath,  and  whispering  to  me  to  lie  down  in 
the  bottom  of  the  boat,  he  assisted  me  into  the  cutter.  We 
actually  rubbed  against  the  captain's  gig,  as  it  was  hauling 
up  to  the  gangway ;  but  no  one  suspected  what  had  just 
taken  place.  This  gig  was  the  only  one  of  the  Speedy's 
boats  that  was  in  the  water,  at  that  hour,  it  having  just  been 
lowered  to  carry  the  captain  ashore.  In  another  minute  we 
had  dropped  astern,  Neb  holding  on  by  a  boat-hook  to  one 
of  the  rudder-chains.  Here  we  lay,  until  the  gig  pulled 
round,  close  to  us,  taking  the  direction  toward  the  usual 
landing,  with  the  captain  of  the  Speedy  in  her. 

In  two  minutes  the  gig  was  out  of  sight,  and  Marble 
whispered  to  Neb  to  let  go  his  hold.  This  was  promptly 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  345 

clone,  when  the  boat  of  the  prize  began  to  drift  from  the 
ship,  swept  by  a  powerful  tide,  and  impelled  by  a  stiff  breeze. 
No  one  paid  any  heed  to  us,  everybody's  thoughts  being 
occupied  with  the  shore  and  the  arrival  at  such  a  moment. 
The  time  was  fortunate  in  another  particular :  Lord  Harry 
Dermond  was  a  vigilant  and  good  officer :  but  his  first-lieu 
tenant  was  what  is  called  on  board  ship  "  a  poor  devil ;"  a 
phrase  that  is  sufficiently  significant;  and  the  moment  a 
vigilant  captain's  back  is  turned,  there  is  a  certain  ease  and 
neglect  in  a  vessel  that  has  an  indifferent  first-lieutenant. 
Every  one  feels  at  liberty  to  do  more  as  he  pleases,  than 
has  been  his  wont ;  and  where  there  is  a  divided  responsi 
bility  of  this  nature,  few  perform  more  duly  than  they  can 
help.  When  "  the  cat  is  away,  the  mice  come  out  to  play." 

At  all  events,  our  boat  continued  to  drop  astern  unob 
served,  until  the  ship  itself  became  very  faintly  visible  to 
us.  I  arose  as  soon  as  we  were  fifty  feet  from  the  rudder, 
and  I  assumed  the  direction  of  affairs  as  soon  as  on  my  feet. 
There  were  a  mast  and  a  lugg-sail  in  the  boat,  and  we  stepped 
the  former  and  set  the  last,  as  soon  as  far  enough  from  the 
Speedy  to  be  certain  we  could  not  be  seen.  Putting  the 
helm  up,  sufficiently  to  bring  the  wind  on  the  quarter,  I  then 
stood  directly  out  to  sea.  All  this  was  accomplished  in  less 
than  five  minutes,  by  means  of  what  the  French  call  a  sud 
den  inspiration ! 

To  be  sure,  our  situation  was  sufficiently  awkward,  now 
we  had  obtained  something  that  had  the  semblance  of  free 
dom.  Neither  of  us  had  a  single  shilling  of  money,  or  an- 
article  of  clothing  but  those  we  wore.  There  was  not  a 
mouthful  of  food  of  any  sort  in  the  boat,  nor  a  drop  of 
water.  The  night  was  lowering,  and  intensely  dark ;  and 
the  wind  was  blowing  fresher  than  was  at  all  desirable  for 
a  boat.  Still  we  determined  to  persevere,  and  we  ran  boldly 
off  the  land,  trusting  our  common  fate  to  Providence.  I 
hoped  we  might  fall  in  with  some  American,  bound  in  or 
out :  should  that  fail  us,  France  might  be  reached,  if  we 
had  good  luck,  in  the  course  of  less  than  eight-and- forty 
hours. 

Our  situation  afforded  nothing  to  occupy  the  mind,  but 
anxiety.  We  could  not  see  a  hundred  yards,  possessed  no 
compass  or  any  other  guide  on  our  way  than  the  direction 


346 


MILES     WALLINGFORD 


of  the  wind,  and  were  totally  without  the  means  of  refresh 
ment  or  shelter.  Still,  we  managed  to  sleep,  by  turns,  each 
having  entire  confidence  in  the  skill  of  both  the  others.  In 
this  manner  we  got  through  the  night,  feeling  no  apprehen 
sions  of  being  pursued,  the  darkness  affording  an  effectual 
cover. 

When  the  light  returned,  we  discovered  nothing  in  pur 
suit,  though  the  weather  was  too  thick  to  admit  of  our  seeing 
any  great  distance  around  the  boat.  All  the  morning  we 
continued  running  to  the  northward  and  eastward,  under  our 
single  lugg  reefed,  only  keeping  clear  of  the  seas  that  chased 
us,  by  dint  of  good  management.  As  for  eating  or  drinking, 
the  first  was  out  of  the  question ;  though  we  began  to  mako 
some  little  provision  to  slake  our  thirst  by  exposing  our 
handkerchiefs  to  the  drizzle,  in  order  to  wring  them  when 
they  should  become  saturated  with  water.  The  coolness  of 
the  weather,  however,  and  the  mist,  contributed  to  prevent 
our  suffering  much,  and  I  do  not  know  that  I  felt  any  great 
desire  for  either  food  or  water,  until  towards  the  middle  of 
the  day.  Then  we  began  to  converse  together,  on  the  sub 
ject  of  dinner,  in  a  jocular  way,  however,  rather  than  with 
any  very  great  longings  on  the  subject.  While  thus  em 
ployed,  Neb  suddenly  exclaimed,  "  dere  a  sail !" 

Sure  enough  a  ship  was  meeting  us,  heading  up  on  the 
larboard  tack  about  west-north-west,  as  she  stretched  in  to 
wards  the  English  coast.  I  can  see  that  vessel,  in  my 
mind's  eye,  even  at  this  distant  day  !  She  had  two  reefs  in 
her  topsails,  with  spanker,  jib,  and  both  courses  set,  like  a 
craft  that  carried  convenient,  rather  than  urgent  canvass. 
Her  line  of  sailing  would  take  her  about  two  hundred  yards 
to  leeward  of  us,  and  my  first  impulse  was  to  luff.  A  second 
glance  showed  us  she  was  an  English  frigate,  and  we  doused 
our  lugg  as  soon  as  possible.  Our  hearts  were  in  our  mouths 
for  the  next  five  minutes.  My  eye  never  turned  from  that 
frigate,  as  she  hove  by  us,  now  rising  on  the  summit  of  a 
sea,  now  falling  gracefully  into  the  trough,  concealing  every 
thing  but  her  spars  from  sight.  Glad  enough  were  we,  when 
she  had  got  so  far  ahead  as  to  bring  us  well  on  her  weather- 
quarter,  though  we  did  not  dare  set  our>sail  again,  until  her 
dark,  glistening  hull,  with  its  line  of  frowning  ports,  was 
shut  up  in  the  :loud  of  mist,  leaving  the  spot  on  the  ocean 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  347 

where  she  had  last  been  seen,  as  if  she  were  not.  That  was 
one  of  those  hair-breadth  escapes  that  often  occur  to  men 
engaged  in  hazardous  undertakings,  without  any  direct 
agency  of  their  own. 

Our  next  adventure  was  of  a  more  pleasing  character.  A 
good-sized  ship  was  made  astern,  coming  up  channel  before 
the  wind,  and  carrying  top-mast  studding-sails.  She  was  an 
American  !  On  this  point  we  were  all  agreed,  and  placing 
ourselves  in  her  track,  we  ran  off,  on  her  course,  knowing 
that  she  must  be  going  quite  two  feet  to  our  one.  In  twenty- 
minutes  she  passed  close  to  us,  her  officers  and  crew  mani 
festing  the  greatest  curiosity  to  learn  who  and  what  we 
were.  So  dexterously  did  Marble  manage  the  boat,  that  we 
got  a  rope,  and  hauled  alongside  without  lessening  the  ship's 
way,  though  she  nearly  towed  us  under  water  in  the  at 
tempt.  The  moment  we  could,  we  leaped  on  deck,  aban 
doning  the  boat  to  its  fate. 

We  had  not  mistaken  the  character  of  the  vessel.  It  was 
a  ship  from  James'  river,  loaded  with  tobacco,  and  bound  to 
Amsterdam.  Her  master  heard  our  story,  believed  it,  and 
felt  for  us.  We  only  remained  with  him  a  week,  however, 
quitting  his  vessel  off  the  coast  of  Holland,  to  go  to  Ham 
burg,  where  I  fancied  my  letters  would  have  been  sent,  and 
whence  I  knew  it  would  be  equally  in  our  power  to  reach 
home.  At  Hamburg,  I  was  fated  to  meet  with  disappoint 
ment.  There  was  not  a  line  for  me,  and  we  found  ourselves 
without  money  in  a  strange  place,  I  did  not  deem  it  pru 
dent  to  tell  our  story,  but  we  agreed  to  ship  together  in  some 
American,  and  work  our  way  home  in  the  best  manner  we 
could.  After  looking  about  us  a  little,  necessity  compelled 
us  to  enter  in  the  first  vessel  that  offered.  This  was  a  Phila 
delphia  ship,  called  the  Schuylkill,  on  board  which  I  ship 
ped  as  second-mate,  while  Marble  and  Neb  took  the  berths 
of  foremast  Jacks.  No  one  questioned  us  as  to  the  past, 
and  we  had  decided  among  ourselves,  to  do  our  duty  and 
keep  mum.  We  used  our  own  names,  and  that  was  the  ex 
tent  of  our  communication  on  the  subject  of  our  true  char 
acters. 

I  found  it  a  little  hard  to  descend  so  much  on  the  ladder 
of  life,  but  an  early  and  capital  training  enabled  me  to  act 
Dicky  over  again,  with  some  credit ;  and,  before  the  ship 


348  MILES    WALLINGPORD. 

went  to  sea,  our  chief  mate  was  discharged  for  drunkenness^ 
and  I  got  a  lift.  Marble  was  put  in  my  place,  and  from  that 
time,  for  the  next  five  months,  things  went  on  smoothly 
enough  ;  I  say  five  months,  for,  instead  of  sailing  for  home 
direct,  the  ship  went  to  Spain,  within  the  Straits,  for  a 
cargo  of  barilla,  which  she  took  up  to  London,  where  she 
got  a  freight  for  Philadelphia.  We  were  all  a  little  uneasy, 
at  finding  that  our  story,  with  sundry  perversions  and  ex 
aggerations,  were  in  the  English  papers ;  but,  by  the  time 
we  reached  England,  it  was  forgotten;  having  been  crowd 
ed  out  by  the  occurrence  of  new  events  of  interest,  at  a 
moment  when  every  week  was  teeming  with  incidents  that 
passed  into  history. 

Nevertheless,  I  was  glad  when  we  left  England,  and  1 
once  more  found  myself  on  the  high  seas,  homeward  bound. 
My  wages  had  enabled  me,  as  well  as  Marble  and  Neb,  to 
get  new  outfits,  suited  to  our  present  stations,  and  we  sailed 
for  Philadelphia  with  as  good  a  stock  of  necessaries  as  usu 
ally  fall  to  the  lot  of  men  in  our  respective  positions.  These 
were  all  that  remained  to  me  of  a  ship  and  cargo  that 
were  worth  between  eighty  and  ninety  thousand  dollars ! 

The  passage  proved  to  be  very  long,  but  we  reached  the 
capes  of  the  Delaware  at  last.  On  the  7th  September, 
1804,  or  when  I  wanted  a  few  weeks  of  being  three-and1- 
twenty,  I  landed  on  the  wharves  of  what  was  then  the  lar 
gest  town  in  America,  a  ruined  and  disappointed  man.  Still 
I  kept  up  my  spirits,  leaving  my  companions  in  ignorance 
of  the  extent  of  my  misfortunes.  We  remained  a  few  days 
to  discharge  the  cargo,  when  we  were  all  three  paid  off.  Neb, 
who  had  passed  on  board  the  Schuylkill  for  a  free  black, 
brought  me  his  wages,  and  when  we  had  thrown  our  joint 
stock  into  a  common  bag,  it  was  found  to  amount  to  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollars.  With  this  mo 
ney,  then,  we  prepared  to  turn  our  faces  north,  Marble  anx 
ious  to  meet  his  mother  and  little  Kitty,  Neb  desirous  of 
again  seeing  Chloe,  and  I  to  meet  my  principal  creditor  John 
Wallingford,  and  to  gain  some  tidings  of  Mr.  Hardinge  and 
Lucv. 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  349 


CHAPTEK  XXYI. 

"  You  think,  I  'li  weep. 

No,  I  *ll  not  weep  : 

I  have  full  cause  of  weeping ;  but  this  heart 
Shall  break  into  a  hundred  thousand  flaws, 
Or  ere  I  '11  weep." 

LEAR. 

I  PASS  over  the  manner  and  time  of  our  being  on  the  road 
between  Philadelphia  and  New  York,  as  things  belonging  to 
a  former  age,  and  to  be  forgotten.  I  will  merely  say  that 
we  travelled  the  South  Amboy  road,  and  went  through  a 
part  of  the  world  called  Feather-bed  Lane,  that  causes  my 
bones  to  ache,  even  now,  in  recollection.  At  South  Amboy, 
we  got  on  board  a  sloop,  or  packet,  and  entered  the  bay  of 
New  York,  by  the  passage  of  the  Kills,  landing  near  While- 
hall.  We  were  superintending  the  placing  of  our  chests  on 
a  cart,  when  some  one  caught  my  hand,  and  exclaimed — 

"  God  bless  me ! — Captain  Wallingford  come  to  life,  as  I 
live !" 

It  was  old  Jared  Jones,  the  man  who  had  been  miller  at 
Clawbonny  from  my  infancy  to  the  day  I  left  home.  I  had 
supposed  him  to  be  at  work  there  still ;  but  the  look  he  gave 
me — the  tears  that  I  could  see  were  forcing  themselves  from 
his  eyes — his  whole  manner,  indeed, — gave  me  at  once  to 
understand  that  all  was  not  right.  My  countenance,  rather 
than  my  tongue,  demanded  an  explanation.  Jared  under 
stood  me,  and  we  walked  together  towards  the  Battery; 
leaving  Marble  and  Neb  to  proceed  with  the  luggage  to  the 
modest  lodgings  in  which  we  had  proposed  to  hide  ourselves 
until  I  had  time  to  look  about  me — a  house  frequented  by 
Moses  for  many  years. 

"  You  perceive  I  do  not  return  home,  Jared,  in  precisely 
the  condition  in  which  I  went  abroad.  My  ship  and  cargo 
are  both  lost,  and  I  come  among  you,  now,  a  poor  man,  I 
fear." 

"  We  were  afraid  that  something  of  the  sort  must  have 
happened,  or  such   bad   news  would  never  have  reached 
Clawbonny,  sir.     Some  of  your  men  got  back  months  ago 
30 


350  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

and  they  brought  the  tidings  that  the  Dawn  was  captivated 
by  the  English.  From  that  hour,  I  think,  Mr.  Hardinge 
gave  the  matter  up.  The  worst  news,  however,  for  us, — 
that  of  your  death  excepted, — was  that  of  the  mortgage  on 
Clawbonny." 

"  The  mortgage  on  Clawbonny !  Has  anything  been 
done  in  connection  with  that?" 

**  Lord  bless  you,  my  dear  Mr.  Miles,  it  has  been  fore 
closed,  under  the  statue  I  believe  they  call  it ;  and  it  was 
advertised  to  be  sold  three  months.  Then,  when  it  was 
sold,  how  much  do  you  think  the  place,  mill  and  all,  actu 
ally  brought?  Just  give  a  guess,  sir?" 

"  Brought !  Clawbonny  is  then  sold,  and  I  am  no  longer 
the  owner  of  my  father's  house  !" 

"  Sold,  sir ;  and  we  have  been  sent  adrift — niggers  and 
all.  They  said  the  freedom-laws  would  soon  let  all  the 
older  blacks  be  their  own  masters;  and,  as  to  the  young 
'uns,  why,  your  creditors  might  sell  their  times.  But  Mr. 
Hardinge  put  the  poor  critturs  into  houses,  near  the  rectory, 
and  they  work  about  among  the  neighbours,  until  things  are 
settled.  It 's  to  their  credit,  Mr.  Miles,  that  not  one  of  'em 
all  thinks  of  runnin'  away.  With  the  feelin'  that 's  up  in 
the  country  consarnin'  blacks,  and  no  master  to  look  arter 
them,  every  one  of  'em  might  be  off,  without  risk." 

"  And  Chloe,  my  sister's  own  girl,  what  has  become  of 
Chloe,  Jared?" 

"  Why,  I  believe  Miss  Lucy  has  tuck  her.  Miss  Lucy  is 
dreadful  rich,  as  all  allow:  and  she  has  put  it  in  her  father's 
power  to  take  care  of  all  the  moveables.  Every  huff  [hoof] 
of  living  thing  that  was  on  the  place,  has  been  put  on  the 
Wright  farm,  in  readiness  for  their  owner,  should  he  ever 
come  to  claim  them." 

"  Has  Miss  Hardinge  had  the  consideration  to  hire  that 
farm,  with  such  an  object  ?" 

"  They  say  she  has  bought  it,  out  of  the  savings  of  her 
income.  It  seems  she  is  mistress  of  her  income,  though 
under  age.  And  this  is  the  use  she  has  made  of  some  of 
her  money." 

"  I  had  supposed  she  would  have  been  married  by  this 
time.  Mr.  Drewett  was  thought  to  be  engaged  to  her  when 
I  sailed." 


MILES     W  ALLIN  GFORD.  351 

c*  Yes :  there  is  much  talk  about  that,  through  the  coun 
try  ;  but  they  say  Miss  Lucy  will  never  marry,  until  she 
has  been  of  age  a  few  weeks,  in  order  that  she  may  do 
what  she  pleases  with  her  money,  afore  a  husband  can  lay 
his  hand  on  it.  Mr.  Rupert  is  married,  I  s'pose  you  heard, 
sir — and  living  away  like  a  nabob  with  his  bride,  in  one  of 
the  best  houses  in  town.  Some  people  say,  that  he  has  a 
right  in  a  part  of  old  Mrs.  Bradfort's  estate,  which  he  will 
get  as  soon  as  Miss  Lucy  comes  of  age." 

I  did  not  like  to  pursue  this  part  of  the  discourse  any 
further,  though  it  was  balm  to  my  wounds  to  hear  these 
tidings  of  Lucy.  The  subject  was  too  sacred,  however,  to 
be  discussed  with  such  a  commentator,  and  I  turned  the  dis 
course  to  Clawbonny,  and  the  reports  that  might  have  cir 
culated  there  concerning  myself.  Green  told  me  all  he 
knew,  which  was  briefly  as  follows : 

It  seems  that  the  second-mate  of  the  Dawn,  and  such  of 
her  crew  as  had  been  put  in  the  Speedy,  and  who  had  not 
been  impressed  either  in  the  frigate  itself,  or  in  England 
after  they  were  turned  ashore,  had  found  their  way  home, 
bringing  with  them  an  account  of  the  capture  of  the  ship, 
her  extraordinary  appearance  near  the  four  combatants,  and 
their  own  attempt  to  escape.  This  last  affair,  in  particular, 
had  made  some  noise  in  the  journals — a  warm  discussion 
having  taken  place  on  the  subject  of  the  right  of  Americans 
to  run  away  with  an  English  man-of-war's  boat,  under  the 
circumstances  in  which  these  poor  fellows  had  found  them 
selves  placed.  In  that  day,  parties  in  America  took  as 
lively  an  interest  in  the  wars  of  Europe,  as  if  the  country 
were  a  belligerent ;  and  politicians,  or  quasi  statesmen,  were 
little  more  than  retailers  of  the  most  ultra  English  and  ultra 
French  opinions.  It  was  sufficient  for  the  Federalists  to 
justify  any  act,  if  England  did  it;  while  the  Democrats  had 
almost  as  strong  a  disposition  to  defend  all  the  enormities 
which  the  policy  of  Napoleon  led  him  to  commit.  I  say 
almost — for,  to  deal  honestly  with  posterity,  I  do  not  think 
the  French- American  party  was  quite  as  French  as  tho 
English-American  party  was  English.  These  last  had  re 
turned  to  their  provincial  dependence  of  thought ;  and,  well. 
read  in  the  English  version  of  all  political  and  moral  truths, 
and  little  read  in  those  of  any  other  state  of  society,  they 


352  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

believed,  as  he  who  worships  at  a  distance  from  the  shrine, 
is  known  implicitly  to  yield  his  faith.  The  English  party 
had  actually  a  foundation  in  deeply-rooted  opinion,  and  co 
lonial  admiration  for  the  ancient  seat  of  power,  whereas  the 
French  owed  its  existence  principally  to  opposition.  The 
alliance  of  1778  had  some  little  influence  among  men  old 
enough  to  have  been  active  in  the  events  of  the  revolution, 
it  is  true,  but  they  existed  as  exceptions  even  in  their  own 
party.  It  was  the  English  feeling  that  was  natural,  hearty, 
dependent,  and  deep;  the  other  having  been,  as  has  just 
been  stated,  rooted  as  much  in  opposition,  as  in  any  other 
soil. 

The  public  discussions  of  the  fate  of  the  Dawn,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  had  drawn  much  speculation,  among  my 
acquaintances,  to  my  own.  As  month  passed  after  month, 
and  no  letters  reached  America,  the  opinion  became  very 
general  that  the  vessel  was  lost.  At  length,  a  ship  from 
Jamaica  brought  in  a  blind  story  of  the  manner  in  which  I 
had  re-taken  my  vessel  from  Senni*. ;  and,  it  now  being 
known  that  we  were  only  four  left  in  the  vessel,  the  conjec 
ture  was  hazarded  that  we  had  been  wrecked  for  want  of 
force  to  take  care  of  the  ship  ,*  and  I  was  set  down  as  a 
drowned  man. 

Shortly  after  this  opinion  of  my  fate  became  general 
among  my  acquaintances,  John  Wallingford  had  appeared 
at  Clawbonny.  He  made  no  change,  however,  spoke  kindly 
to  every  one,  told  the  slaves  nothing  should  be  altered,  and 
gave  them  every  reason  to  suppose  that  they  would  continue 
under  a  true  Wallingford  regime.  It  was  generally  under 
stood  he  was  to  be  my  heir,  and  no  one  saw  any  occasion 
for  the  acts  of  violence  that  succeeded. 

But,  two  months  after  John  Wallingford's  visit,  Mr.  Har- 
dinge,  and  all  connected  with  Clawbonny,  had  been  as 
tounded  by  the  intelligence  of  the  existence  of  the  mortgage. 
A  foreclosure  under  the  statute,  or  *  statue,'  as  Jared  had 
called  it,  was  commenced,  and  a  few  months  later  the  place 
was  publicly  sold  at  Kingston,  none  bidding  more  than  five 
thousand  dollars  for  it,  less  than  a  sixth  of  its  worth.  This 
sacrifice  of  real  estate,  however,  under  forced  sales,  was, 
and  is,  common  enough  in  America,  especially ;  it  being 
generally  understood  that  the  creditor  is  prepared  to  rise  in 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  353 

his  bids,  as  necessity  presents.  In  my  case  there  was  no 
one  to  protect  my  rights,  Mr.  Hardinge  having  attended  the 
sale  prepared  to  reason  with  my  cousin  on  the  propriety 
and  generosity  of  his  course,  rather  than  prepared  with 
good  current  coin  to  extinguish  the  claim.  John  Walling, 
ford  did  not  appear,  however,  and  the  sale  took  place  with 
out  further  competition,  than  one  bid  of  Mr.  Hardinge's ;  a 
bid  that  he  was  not  properly  prepared  to  make,  but  which 
he  hazarded  on  his  knowledge  of  Lucy's  means  and  dispo 
sition.  A  man  of  the  name  of  Daggett,  a  relative  of  John 
Wallingford's,  by  his  mother's  side,  was  the  ostensible 
purchaser,  and  now  professed  to  be  the  owner  of  my  pater 
nal  acres.  It  was  he  who  had  taken  possession  under  the 
purchase,  had  dismissed  the  negroes,  and  sent  off  the  per 
sonal  property  ;  and  he  it  was  who  had  placed  new  servants 
on  the  farm  and  in  the  mill.  To  the  surprise  of  everybody, 
John  Wallingford  had  not  appeared  in  the  transaction,  though 
it  was  understood  he  had  a  legal  right  to  all  my  remaining 
effects,  in  the  event  of  my  real  death.  No  will  was  proved 
or  produced,  however,  nor  was  anything  heard  of,  or  con 
cerning,  my  cousin  !  Mr.  Daggett  was  a  close  and  reserved 
man,  and  nothing  could  be  learned  on  the  subject  from  him. 
His  right  to  Clawbonny  could  not  be  disputed,  and  after 
consulting  counsel  in  the  premises,  Mr.  Hardinge  himself 
had  been  compelled,  reluctantly,  to  admit  it.  Such  was  the 
substance  of  what  I  gleaned  from  the  miller,  in  a  random 
sort  of  conversation  that  lasted  an  hour.  Of  course,  much 
remained  to  be  explained,  but  I  had  learned  enough,  to  know 
that  I  was  virtually  a  beggar  as  to  means,  whatever  I  might 
be  in  feeling. 

When  I  parted  from  Jared  I  gave  him  my  address,  and 
we  were  to  meet  again  next  day.  The  old  man  felt  an  in 
terest  in  me  that  was  soothing  to  my  feelings,  and  I  wished 
to  glean  all  I  could  from  him ;  more  especially  concerning 
Lucy  and  Mr.  Hardinge.  I  now  followed  Marble  and  Neb 
to  the  boarding-house,  one  frequented  by  masters  and  mates 
of  ships,  the  masters  being  of  the  humble  class  to  conde 
scend  thus  to  mingle  with  their  subordinates.  We  consumed 
the  rest  of  the  morning  in  establishing  ourselves  in  our 
rooms,  and  in  putting  on  our  best  round-abouts ;  for  I  was 
not  the  owner  of  a  coat  that  had  skirts  to  it,  unless,  indeed 
30  * 


354  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

there  might  be  a  few  old  garments  of  that  sort  among  the 
effects  that  had  been  removed  from  Clawbonny  to  the  Wright 
farm.  Notwithstanding  this  defect  in  my  wardrobe,  I  would 
not  have  the  reader  suppose  I  made  a  mean  or  a  disagreea 
ble  appearance.  On  the  contrary,  standing  as  I  did,  six 
feet  one,  in  my  shoes,  attired  in  a  neat  blue  round-about  of 
mate's  cloth,  with  a  pair  of  quarter-deck  trowsers,  a  clean 
white  shirt,  a  black  silk  handkerchief,  and  a  vest  of  a  pretty 
but  modest  pattern,  I  was  not  at  all  ashamed  to  be  seen.  I 
had  come  from  England,  a  country  in  which  clothes  are 
both  good  and  cheap,  and  a  trimmer-looking  tar  than  I  then 
was,  seldom  showed  himself  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town. 

Marble  and  I  had  dined,  and  were  preparing  to  sally 
forth  on  a  walk  up  Broadway,  when  I  saw  a  meagre,  care 
worn,  bilious-looking  sort  of  a  person  enter  the  house,  and 
proceed  towards  the  bar,  evidently  with  an  inquiry  concern 
ing  some  of  the  inmates.  The  bar-tender  pointed  at  once  to 
me,  when  the  stranger  approached,  and  with  a  species  of 
confidence  that  seemed  to  proclaim  that  he  fancied  news  to 
be  the  great  end  of  life,  and  that  all  who  were  engaged  in  its 
dissemination  were  privileged  beings,  he  announced  himself 
as  Colonel  Warbler,  the  Editor  of  the  New  York  Republican 
Freeman.  I  asked  the  gentleman  into  the  common  sitting- 
room,  when  the  following  dialogue  took  place  between  us. 

"  We  have  just  heard  of  your  arrival,  Captain  Walling- 
ford,"  commenced  the  Colonel,  all  New  York  editors  of  a 
certain  calibre  seeming  to  be,  ex-officio,  of  that  blood-and- 
thunder  rank,  "  and  are  impatient  to  place  you,  as  it  might 
be,  rectus  in  curid,  before  the  nation.  Your  case  excited  a 
good  deal  of  feeling  some  months  since,  and  the  public  mind 
may  be  said  to  be  prepared  to  learn  the  whole  story ;  or,  in 
a  happy  condition  to  indulge  in  further  excitement.  If  you 
will  have  the  goodness  to  furnish  me  with  the  outlines,  sir," 
coolly  producing  pen,  ink,  and  paper  without  further  cere 
mony,  and  preparing  to  write,  "  I  promise  you  that  the 
whole  narrative  shall  appear  in  the  Freeman  of  to-morrow, 
related  in  a  manner  of  which  you  shall  have  no  reason  to 
complain.  The  caption  is  already  written,  and  if  you  please, 
I  will  read  it  to  you,  before  we  go  any  further."  Then 
without  waiting  to  ascertain  whether  I  did  or  did  not  please 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  355 

to  hear  him,  the  colonel  incontinently  commenced  reading 
what  he  called  his  caption. 

"'In  the  Schuylkill,  arrived  lately  at  Philadelphia,  came 
passenger  our  esteemed  fellow-citizen  Captain  Miles  Wal- 
lingford" — in  1804,  everybody  had  not  got  to  be  '  esquires? 
even  the  editors  not  yet  assuming  that  title  of  gentility  ex 
officio.  "  This  gentleman's  wrongs  have  already  been  laid 
before  our  readers.  From  his  own  mouth  we  learn  the 
following  outline  of  the  vile  and  illegal  manner  in  which  he 
has  been  treated  by  an  English  man-of-war  called  the 
Speedy,  commanded  by  a  sprig  of  nobility  y'clepped  Lord" 
—  I  have  left  a  blank  for  the  name  —  "an  account  which 
will  awaken  in  the  bosom  of  every  true-hearted  American 
sentiments  of  horror  and  feelings  of  indignation,  at  this  new 
instance  of  British  faith  and  British  insolence  on  4he  high- 
seas.  It  will  be  seen  by  this  account,  that  not  satisfied  with 
impressing  all  his  crew,  and  in  otherwise  maltreating  them, 
this  scion  of  aristocracy  has  violated  every  article  of  the 
treaty  between  the  two  countries,  as  respects  Captain  Wal- 
lingford  himself,  and  otherwise  trodden  on  every  principle 
of  honour;  in  a  word — set  at  naught  all  the  commandments 
of  God.  We  trust  there  w'"  be  found  no  man,  or  set  of 
men  in  the  country,  to  defend  such  outrageous  conduct,  and 
that  even  the  minions  of  England,  employed  around  the 
Federal  presses  of  our  country,  will  be  ready  to  join  with 
us,  on  this  occasion,  in  denouncing  British  aggression  and 
British  usurpation.'  There,  sir,  I  trust  that  is  quite  to  your 
liking." 

"  It  is  a  little  ex  parte,  Colonel,  as  I  have  quite  as  much 
complaint  to  make  of  French  as  of  English  aggression, 
having  been  twice  captured,  once  by  an  English  frigate,  and 
again  by  a  French  privateer.  I  prefer  to  tell  the  whole  story, 
if  I  am  to  tell  any  of  it." 

"  Certainly,  sir ;  we  wish  to  relate  all  the  enormities  of 
which  these  arrogant  English  were  guilty." 

"  I  believe  that,  in  capturing  my  ship,  the  English  com 
mander  did  me  an  act  of  great  injustice,  and  was  the  cause 
of  my  ruin — " 

"  Stop,  sir,  if  you  please,"  interrupted  Colonel  Warbler, 
writing  with  rapidity  and  zeal,  "  and  thus  caused  the  ruin 


356  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

of  an  industrious  and  honest  man ;  ay,  that  ends  a  period 
beautifully — well,  sir,  proceed." 

"  But,  I  have  no  personal  ill  treatment  to  complain  of; 
and,  the  act  of  the  French  was  of  precisely  the  same  char 
acter  ;  perhaps,  worse,  as  I  had  got  rid  of  the  English  prize- 
crew,  when  the  Frenchman  captured  us  in  his  turn,  and 
prevented  our  obtaining  shelter  and  a  new  crew  in  France." 
Colonel  Warbler  listened  with  cold  indifference.  Not  a  line 
would  he  write  against  the  French,  belonging  to  a  very  ex 
tensive  school  of  disseminators  of  news  who  fancy  it  is  a 
part  of  their  high  vocation  to  tell  just  as  much,  or  just  as 
little,  of  any  transaction,  as  may  happen  to  suit  their  own 
purposes.  I  pressed  the  injuries  I  had  received  from  the 
French,  on  my  visitor,  so  much  the  more  warmly,  on  ac 
count  of,  the  reluctance  he  manifested  to  publish  it ;  but  all 
to  no  purpose.  Next  morning  the  Republican  Freeman  con 
tained  just  such  an  account  of  the  affair  as  comported  with 
the  consistency  of  that  independent  and  manly  journal ;  not 
a  word  being  said  about  the  French  privateer,  while  the  ac 
count  of  the  proceedings  of  the  English  frigate  was  embel 
lished  with  sundry  facts  and  epithets  that  must  have  been 
obtained  from  Colonel  Warbler's  general  stock  in  trade,  as 
it  was  certainly  not  derived  from  me. 

As  soon  as  I  got  rid  of  this  gentleman,  which  was  not 
long  after  he  discovered  my  desire  to  press  the  delinquency 
of  the  French  on  his  notice,  Marble  and  I  left  the  house, 
on  the  original  design  of  strolling  up  Broadway,  and  of 
looking  at  the  changes  produced  by  time.  We  had  actu 
ally  got  a  square,  when  I  felt  some  one  touch  my  elbow; 
turning,  I  found  it  was  an  utter  -stranger  with  a  very  eager, 
wonder-mongering  sort  of  a  countenance,  and  who  was  a 
good  deal  out  of  breath  with  running. 

"  Your  pardon,  sir ;  the  bar-tender  of  the  house  where 
you  lodge,  tells  me  you  are  Captain  Wallingford."  I  bowed 
an  assent,  foreseeing  another  application  for  facts. 

"  Well,  sir,  I  hope  you  '11  excuse  the  liberty  I  am  taking, 
on  account  of  its  object.  I  represent  the  public,  which  is 
ever  anxious  to  obtain  the  earliest  information  on  all  mat 
ters  of  general  concernment,  and  I  feel  emboldened  by  duty, 
10  introduce  myself— Colonel  Positive  of  the  Federal  Truth 
Teller,  a  journal  that  your  honoured  father  once  did  us  the 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  357 

favour  to  take — we  have  this  moment  heard  of  the  atrocities 
committed  on  you,  Captain  Wallingford,  by  *  a  brigand  of  a 
French  piratical,  picarooning,  plundering  vagabond,"  read 
ing  from  what  I  dare  say  was  another  caption,  prepared 
for  the  other  side  of  the  question ;  "  a  fresh  instance  of 
Gallic  aggression,  and  republican,  Jacobinical  insolence; 
atrocities  that  are  of  a  character  to  awaken  the  indignation 
of  every  right-thinking  American,  and  which  can  only  find 
abettors  among  that  portion  of  the  community,  which,  pos 
sessing  nothing,  is  never  slow  to  sympathize  in  the  success 
of  this  robber,  though  it  be  at  the  expense  of  American 
rights,  and  American  prosperity." 

As  soon  as  Col.  Positive  had  read  this  much,  he  stopped 
to  take  breath,  looking  at  me,  as  if  expecting  some  excla 
mations  of  admiration  and  delight. 

"  I  have  suffered  by  means  of  what  I  conceive  to  be  a 
perfectly  unauthorized  act  of  a  French  privateer,  Col.  Posi 
tive,"  I  replied  ;  "  but  this  wrong  would  not  have  been  done 
me,  had  I  not  suffered  previously  by  what  I  conceive  to  be 
an  equally  unjustifiable  act  of  the  English  frigate,  the 
Speedy,  commanded  by  Captain  Lord  Harry  Dermond,  a 
son  of  the  Irish  Marquis  of  Thole." 

"  Bless  me,  sir,  this  is  very  extraordinary  !  An  English 
frigate,  did  you  say  ?  It  is  very  unusual  for  the  vessels  of 
that  just  nation  ever  to  be  guilty  of  an  aggression,  particu 
larly  as  our  common  language,  common  descent,  Saxon  an 
cestors,  and  Saxon  English,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  you 
know,  operate  against  it ;  whereas,  sorry  I  am  to  say,  each 
new  arrival  brings  us  some  fresh  instance  of  the  atrocities 
of  the  myrmidons  of  this  upstart  Emperor  of  the  French ; 
a  man,  sir,  whose  deeds,  sir,  have  never  been  paralleled 
since  the  day  of  Nero,  Caligula,  and  all  the  other  tyrants 
of  antiquity.  If  you  will  favour  me,  Captain  Wallingford, 
with  a  few  of  the  particulars  of  this  last  atrocity  of  Bona 
parte,  I  promise  you  it  shall  be  circulated  far  and  near,  and 
that  in  a  way  to  defy  the  malignant  and  corrupt  perversions 
of  any  man,  or  set  of  men." 

I  had  the  cruelty  to  refuse  compliance.  It  made  no  dif 
ference,  however ;  for,  next  day,  the  Federal  Truth  Teller 
had  an  account  of  the  matter,  that  was  probably  about  as 
accurate  as  if  I  had  related  all  the  events  myself,  and  which 


358  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

was  also  about  as  true  as  most  of  the  jeremiads  of  the  jour 
nals  that  are  intended  for  brilliant  effect.  It  was  read  with 
avidity  by  all  the  federalists  of  America ;  while  its  counter 
part  in  the  Republican  Freeman,  passed,  pari  passu,  through 
all  the  democratic  papers,  and  was  devoured,  with  a  similar 
appetite,  by  the  whole  of  that  side  of  the  question.  This 
distinction,  I  afterwards  ascertained,  was  made  by  nearly 
the  whole  country.  If  a  federalist  was  my  auditor,  he 
would  listen  all  day  to  that  part  of  my  story  which  related 
to  the  capture  by  the  French  privateer ;  while  it  was  vice 
versa  with  the  democrats.  Most  of  the  merchants  being 
federalists,  and  the  English  having  so  much  more  connec 
tion  with  my  narrative  than  the  French,  I  soon  found  I  was 
making  myself  exceedingly  unpopular  by  speaking  on  the 
subject  at  all ;  nor  was  it  long  before  a  story  got  in  circu 
lation,  that  I  was  nothing  but  a  run-away  English  deserter 
myself — I,  the  fifth  Miles  of  my  name,  at  Clawbonny !  As 
for  Marble,  men  were  ready  to  swear  he  had  robbed  his 
captain,  and  got  off  from  an  English  two-decker  only  four 
years  before.  It  is  unnecessary  to  tell  people  of  the  world 
the  manner  in  which  stories  to  the  prejudice  of  an  unpopular 
man  are  fabricated,  and  with  what  industry  they  are  circu 
lated  ;  so  I  shall  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  what  would 
have  been  our  fate,  had  we  not  possessed  the  prudence  to 
cease  dwelling  on  our  wrongs.  Instead  of  thinking  of  ap 
pealing  to  the  authorities  of  my  country  for  redress,  I  felt 
myself  fortunate  in  having  the  whole  affair  forgotten,  as 
soon  as  possible,  leaving  me  some  small  portion  of  char 
acter. 

I  confess,  while  returning  home,  I  had  sometimes  fancied 
I  might  be  protected  by  the  country  of  which  I  was  a  na 
tive,  for  which  I  had  fought,  and  to  which  I  paid  taxes ;  but 
I  was  only  three-and-twenty,  and  did  not  then  understand 
the  workings  of  laws,  particularly  in  a  state  of  society  that 
submits  to  have  its  most  important  interests  under  foreign 
control.  Had  I  received  a  wrong  from  only  a  Frenchman, 
or  an  Englishman,  I  should  have  fared  a  little  better,  in  ap 
pearance,  at  least,  though  my  money  was  irretrievably  gone ; 
for  one  political  party,  or  the  other,  as  the  case  might  have 
been,  would  have  held  me  up  to  ex  parte  sympathy,  so  long 
as  it  suited  its  purposes,  or  until  the  novelty  of  some  new 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  359 

case  offered  an  inducement  to  supplant  me.  But  I  had  been 
wronged  by  both  belligerents  ;  and  it  was  soon  agreed,  by 
mutual  consent,  to  drop  the  whole  subject.  As  for  redress 
or  compensation,  I  was  never  fool  enough  to  seek  it.  On 
the  contrary,  finding  how  unpopular  it  made  a  man  among 
the  merchants,  to  prove  anything  against  Great  Britain,  just 
at  that  moment,  I  was  wisely  silent,  thus  succeeding  in 
saving  my  character,  which  would  otherwise  have  followed 
my  property,  as  the  shortest  method  of  making  a  trouble- 
gome  declaimer  hold  his  tongue. 

Most  young  persons  will  doubtless  hesitate  to  believe  that 
such  a  state  of  things  could  ever  have  existed  in  a  nation 
calling  itself  independent ;  but,  in  the  first  place,  it  must  be 
remembered,  that  the  passions  of  factions  never  leave  their 
followers  independent  of  their  artifices  and  designs ;  and, 
in  the  next  place,  all  who  knew  the  state  of  this  country  in 
1804,  must  admit  it  was  not  independent  in  mind,  of  either 
England  or  France.  Facts  precede  thought  in  everything 
among  us ;  and  public  opinion  was  as  much  in  arrears  of 
the  circumstances  of  the  country,  then,  as — as— to  what 
shall  I  liken  it  ? — why,  as  it  is  to-day.  I  know  no  better  or 
truer  parallel.  I  make  no  doubt  that  the  same  things  would 
be  acted  over  again,  were  similar  wrongs  to  be  committed 
by  the  same  powerful  belligerents. 

Marble  was  ludicrously  enraged  at  these  little  instances 
of  the  want  of  true  nationality  in  his  countrymen.  He  was 
not  a  man  to  be  bullied  into  holding  his  tongue ;  and,  for 
years  afterwards,  he  expressed  his  opinions  on  the  subject 
of  an  American's  losing  his  ship  and  cargo,  as  I  had  lost 
mine,  without  even  a  hope  of  redress,  with  a  freedom  that 
did  more  credit  to  his  sense  of  right,  than  to  his  prudence. 
As  for  myself,  as  has  just  been  said,  I  never  even  attempted 
to  procure  justice.  I  knew  its  utter  hopelessness ;  and  the 
Dawn  and  her  cargo  went  with  the  hundreds  of  other  ships 
and  cargoes,  that  were  sunk  in  the  political  void  created  by 
the  declaration  of  war,  in  1812. 

This  is  an  unpleasant  subject  to  me.  I  could  gladly  have 
passed  it  over,  for  it  proves  that  the  political  association  of 
this  country  failed  in  one  of  the  greatest  ends  of  all  such 
associations ; — but  nothing  is  ever  gained  by  suppressing 
truth,  on  such  a  matter.  Let  those  who  read  reflect  on  the 


360  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

past :  it  may  possibly  have  a  tendency  to  render  the  future 
more  secure,  giving  to  the  American  citizen  in  reality,  some 
of  those  rights  which  it  so  much  accords  with  our  habits  to 
boast  of  his  possessing.  If  concealment  did  any  good,  I 
would  gladly  be  silent ;  but  diseases  in  the  body  politic  re 
quire  a  bold  and  manly  treatment,  even  more  than  those  in 
the  physical  system.  I  remember  the  tone  of  the  presses 
of  the  trading  towns  of  this  country  on  the  subject  of  the 
late  French  treaty, — one  of  the  most  flagitious  instances  of 
contempt,  added  to  wrong,  of  which  history  supplies  an  in 
stance,  and  will  own  I  do  not  feel  much  encouraged  to  hope 
for  any  great  improvement. 

After  we  got  rid  of  Colonel  No.  2,  Marble  and  I  conti 
nued  our  walk.  We  passed  several  persons  of  my  acquaint 
ance,  but  not  one  of  them  recognised  me  in  my  present 
attire.  I  was  not  sorry  to  see  this,  as  I  was  wearied  of  my 
story,  and  could  gladly  remain  in  a  species  of  incognito, 
for  a  few  days.  But,  New  York  was  comparatively  a  small 
town  in  1804,  and  everybody  knew  almost  everybody's 
face  who  was  anybody.  There  was  little  real  hope,  there 
fore,  of  my  escaping  recognition  for  any  great  length  of 
time. 

We  strolled  up  above  St.  Paul's,  then  a  high  quarter  of 
the  town,  and  where  a  few  houses  had  been  erected  in  what 
was  then  a  new  and  enlarged  style.  On  the  stoop  of  one 
of  these  patrician  residences — to  use  a  word  that  has  since 
come  much  into  use — I  saw  a  fashionably  dressed  man, 
standing,  picking  his  teeth,  with  the  air  of  its  master.  I 
had  nearly  passed  this  person,  when  an  exclamation  from 
him,  and  his  calling  my  mate  by  name,  caused  me  to  stop. 
It  was  Rupert ! 

"  Marble,  my  dear  fellow,  why,  how  fare  you  ?"  said  our 
old  ship-mate,  descending  the  steps,  with  an  indolent,  half- 
cordial,  half-condescending  manner ;  extending  his  hand  at 
the  same  time,  which  Moses  received  and  shook  heartily. — 
'*  The  sight  of  you  reminds  me  of  old  times,  and  salt 
water!" 

"  Mr.  Hardinge,"  answered  my  mate,  who  knew  nothing 
of  Rupert's  defects,  beyond  his  want  of  aptitude  for  the  sea, 
1  I'm  heartily  glad  to  fall  in  with  you.  Do  your  father  and 
handsome  sister  live  here?" 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  361 

"  Not  they,  old  Moses ;"  answered  Rupert,  still  without 
casting  his  eyes  on  me.  "  This  is  my  own  house,  in  which 
[  shall  be  very  happy  to  see  you,  and  to  make  you  ac 
quainted  with  my  wife,  who  is  also  an  old  acquaintance  of 
yours — Miss  Emily  Merton  that  was — the  daughter  of  Gen. 
Merton,  of  the  British  army." 

"  Blast  the  British  army !  and  blast  the  British  navy, 
too  !"  cried  Marble,  with  more  feeling  than  manners.  "  But 
for  the  last,  our  old  friend  Miles,  here,  would  now  be  a  rich 
man." 

"  Miles !"  Rupert  repeated,  with  an  astonishment  that  had 
more  nature  in  it  than  had  been  usual  with  him  of  late  years. 
"  This  is  true,  then,  and  you  have  not  been  lost  at  sea,  Wal- 
lingford  ?" 

"  I  am  living,  as  you  may  see,  Mr.  Hardinge,  and  glad 
of  this  opportunity  to  inquire  after  your  father  and  sister]" 

"  Both  are  well,  I  thank  you :  the  old  gentleman,  in  par 
ticular,  will  be  delighted  to  see  you.  He  has  felt  your  mis 
fortunes  keenly,  and  did  all  he  could  to  avert  the  sad  affair 
about  Clawbonny.  You  know  he  could  as  well  raise  a  mil 
lion,  as  raise  five  or  ten  thousand  dollars ;  and  poor  Lucy 
is  still  a  minor,  and  can  only  touch  her  income,  the  savings 
of  which  were  insufficient,  just  then.  We  did  all  we  could, 
I  can  assure  you,  Wallingford ;  but  I  was  about  commencing 
house-keeping,  and  was  in  want  of  cash  at  the  moment,— 
and  you  know  how  it  is  under  such  circumstances.  Poor 
Clawbonny  !  I  was  exceedingly  sorry  when  I  heard  of  it ; 
though  they  say  this  Mr.  Daggett,  your  successor,  is  going 
to  do  wonders  with  it, — a  capitalist,  they  tell  me,  and  able 
to  carry  out  all  his  plans." 

"  I  am  glad  Clawbonny  has  fallen  into  good  hands,  since 
it  has  passed  out  of  mine.  Good  evening,  Mr.  Hardinge , 
l  shall  take  an  early  opportunity  to  find  your  father,  and  to 
learn  the  particulars." 

"  Yes ;  he  '11  be  exceedingly  glad  to  see  you,  Walling- 
ford ;  and  I  'm  sure  it  will  always  afford  me  pleasure  to  aid 
you,  in  any  way  I  can.  I  fear  it  must  be  very  low  water 
with  you  ?" 

"  If  having  nothing  to  meet  a  balance  of  some  twenty  or 
thirty  thousand  dollars  of  unpaid  debt  is  what  you  call  low 
water,  the  tide  is  out  of  my  pocket,  certainly.  But,  I  shall 
31 


362  MILES   W  A  LLIItGFORD. 

not  despair ;  I  am  young,  and  have  a  noble,  manly  profb*. 
sion." 

**  Yes,  I  dare  say,  you  Ml  do  remarkably  well,  Walling, 
ford,"  Rupert  answered,  in  a  patronizing  manner.  "  You 
were  always  an  enterprising  fellow ;  and  one  need  have  no 
great  concern  for  you.  It  would  hardly  be  delicate  to  ask 
you  to  see  Mrs.  Hardinge,  just  as  you  are — not  but  what 
you  appear  uncommonly  well  in  your  round-about,  but  I 
know  precisely  how  it  is  with  young  men  when  there  are 
ladies  in  the  case ;  and  Emily  is  a  little  over-refined,  per 
haps." 

"  Yet,  Mrs.  Hardinge  has  seen  me  often  in  a  round-about, 
and  passed  hours  in  my  company,  when  I  have  been  dressed 
just  as  I  am  at  this  moment." 

"  Ay,  at  sea.  One  gets  used  to  everything  at  sea.  Good 
evening ;  I  '11  bear  you  in  mind,  Wallingford,  and  may  do 
something  for  you.  I  am  intimate  with  the  heads  of  all  the 
principal  mercantile  houses,  and  shall  bear  you  in  mind, 
certainly.  Good  evening,  Wallingford. — A  word  with  you, 
Marble,  before  we  part." 

I  smiled  bitterly — and  walked  proudly  from  before  Ru 
pert's  door.  Little  did  I  then  know  that  Lucy  was  seated 
within  thirty  feet  of  me,  listening  to  Andrew  Drewett's  con 
versation  and  humour.  Of  the  mood  in  which  she  was 
listening,  I  shall  have  occasion  to  speak  presently.  As  for 
Marble,  when  he  overtook  me,  I  was  informed  that  Rupert 
had  stopped  him  in  order  to  ascertain  our  address;— a 
piece  of  condescension  for  which  I  had  not  the  grace  to  be 
hankful. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  363 


CHAPTER  XXYII. 

"The  weary  sun  hath  made  a  golden  set, 
And,  by  the  bright  track  of  his  fiery  car, 
Gives  token  of  a  goodly  day  to-morrow." 

SHAKSPEARJC. 

I  WAS  quite  as  much  surprised  at  my  own  manner  to 
wards  Rupert,  as  he  could  be  himself.  No  doubt  he  ascribed 
it  to  my  fallen  fortune,  for,  at  the  commencement  of  the  in 
terview,  he  was  a  good  deal  confused,  and  his  confidence 
rose  in  proportion  as  he  fancied  mine  was  lessened.  The 
moderation  I  manifested,  however,  was  altogether  owing  to 
Lucy,  whose  influence  on  my  feelings  never  ceased.  As 
for  Marble,  he  thought  all  was  right,  and  was  very  decided 
in  his  approval  of  Rupert's  behaviour  and  appearance. 

"  JT  isn't  every  man  that  can  make  a  seaman,  Miles," 
he  said,  "  for  it 's  a  gift  that  comes  nat'rally,  like  singing, 
or  rope-dancing.  I  dare  say  Rupert  will  do  very  well 
ashore,  in  the  gentleman  line,  though  he  Js  no  great  catch 
afloat,  as  all  will  admit  who  ever  sailed  with  him.  The  lad 
don't  want  for  stuff;  but  it 's  shore  stuff,  a'ter  all ;  and  that 
will  never  pass  muster  in  blue  water.  I  dare  say,  now,  this 
Imperor-Gineral,  Bonaparte,  would  make  a  bloody  poor  ship 
master,  if  a  body  was  to  try  him." 

I  made  no  answer,  and  we  strolled  on  until  dark.  Then 
we  returned  to  our  lodgings,  and  turned-in.  Next  morning 
we  breakfasted  with  the  rest,  and  I  was  about  to  set  out  in 
search  of  a  lawyer,  to  take  his  opinion  on  the  subject  of  my 
insurance,  though  I  had  little  or  no  hope  of  recovering 
anything,  when  I  was  told  two  gentlemen  wished  to  see  me. 
At  first  sight,  I  fancied  that  more  editors  were  in  quest  of 
news ;  but  we  were  no  sooner  alone  together,  than  one  of 
these  persons  let  me  into  the  secret  of  his  errand,  in  a  way 
that  was  well  enough  as  respects  the  suaviter  in  modo,  while 
it  could  not  be  said  to  be  in  the  least  deficient  in  the  fortiter 
in  re. 

"  I  am  sorry  to  say,  Capt.  Wallingford,"  this  person 
commenced  "  that  I  have  a  writ  to  arrest  you,  for  a  sum 


364  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

that  will  require  very  respectable  bail — no  less  than  sixty 
thousand  dollars." 

*'  Well  done,  my  upright  cousin,"  I  muttered ;  "  this  is 
losing  no  time,  certainly.  I  owe  half  that  money,  I  admit, 
sir,  if  my  farm  only  sold  for  five  thousand  dollars,  as  I  hear, 
and  I  suppose  I  am  arrested  for  the  penalty  of  my  bond. 
But,  at  whose  suit  am  I  thus  pursued  ?" 

Here,  the  second  person  announced  himself  as  the  attor 
ney  of  the  plaintiff,  excusing  his  presence  on  the  pretence 
that  he  hoped  to  be  of  service  in  amicably  arranging  the 
affair. 

"  My  client  is  Mr.  Thomas  Daggett,  of  Clawbonny,  Ul 
ster  county,  who  holds  your  bonds  as  the  administrator  of 
the  estate  of  the  late  John  Wallingford,  deceased,  a  gentle 
man  to  whom  I  believe  you  were  related." 

"  The  late  John  Wallingford  !    Is  my  cousin  then  dead  ?" 

"  He  departed  this  life  eight  months  since,  dying  quite 
unexpectedly.  Letters  of  administration  have  been  granted 
to  Mr.  Daggett,  who  is  a  son  of  his  mother's  sister,  and  a 
principal  heir,  the  party  dying  intestate.  It  is  a  great  pity 
that  the  law  excludes  you  from  the  succession,  being  as  you 
are  of  the  name." 

"  My  kinsman  gave  me  reason  to  think  I  was  to  be  his 
heir,  as  it  was  understood  he  was  to  be  mine.  My  will  in 
his  favour  was  left  in  his  hands." 

"  We  are  aware  of  that,  sir,  and  your  death  being  sup 
posed,  for  a  considerable  period,  it  was  thought  your  per 
sonals  would  descend  to  us,  in  part,  by  devise,  which  might 
have  prevented  the  necessity  of  taking  the  unpleasant  step 
to  which  we  are  now  driven.  The  question  was,  which  died 
first,  you,  or  your  cousin,  and  that  fact,  you  will  easily  un 
derstand,  we  had  no  means  of  establishing.  As  it  is,  the 
duty  of  the  administrator  compels  him  to  proceed,  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible." 

"  I  have  no  alternative,  then,  but  to  go  to  gaol.  I  know 
not  the  person  on  earth,  I  can  or  could  ask  to  become  my 
bail  for  a  sum  as  large  as  even  that  I  justly  owe,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  penalty  of  the  bond." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  to  hear  this,  Captain  Wallingford," 
Mr.  Meekly,  the  attorney,  very  civilly  replied.  "  We  will 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  365 

walk  together,  leaving  the  officer  to  follow.  Perhaps  the 
matter  may  be  arranged  amicably." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  sir.  But,  before  quitting  this  house, 
I  will  discharge  my  bill,  and  communicate  my  position  to  a 
couple  of  friends,  who  are  waiting  in  the  passage." 

Neb  was  one  of  these  friends :  for  I  felt  I  was  fast  getting 
into  a  condition  which  rendered  the  friendship  of  even  my 
slaves  of  importance  to  me.  That  worthy  fellow  and  Mar 
ble  joined  us  on  a  signal  from  me,  when  I  simply  let  them 
into  the  secret  of  my  affairs. 

"  Arrested !"  said  Moses,  eyeing  the  sheriff's  officer  with 
sovereign  contempt ;  though  he  was  a  sturdy  fellow,  and 
one  who  had  every  disposition  to  do  his  duty.  "Arrested ! 
Why,  Miles,  you  can  handle  both  these  chaps,  yourself; 
and,  with  Neb's  and  my  assistance,  could  work  'em  up  into 
spun-yarn  without  a  winch  !" 

"  That  may  be  true,  Moses :  but  I  cannot  handle  the  law, 
even  with  your  powerful  aid ;  nor  should  I  wish  to,  if  I 
could.  I  am  bound  to  gaol,  my  friends, — having  no  bail,— 

"  Bail !  Why  I'll  be  your  bail ;  and,  if  you  want  two, 
there  's  Neb." 

"  I  fancy  the  gentleman  don't  much  understand  being 
taken  on  a  writ,"  the  attorney  simpered. 

"  I  not  understand  it !  That 's  a  bloody  poor  guess  of 
your'n,  my  friend. — When  we  had  the  scrape  with  the 
Hamburghers,  in  Philadelphy,  —  it 's  now  coming  thirty 
years, — " 

"  Never  mind  all  that  just  now,  Moses.  I  wish  you  to 
pay  my  bill  here ;  give  Neb  the  small  bag  of  my  clothes  to 
bring  up  to  the  gaol,  and  keep  my  other  effects  under  your 
own  care.  Of  course  you  will  come  to  see  me,  by-and- 
bye :  but  I  now  order  you  not  to  follow  us." 

I  then  left  the  house,  with  a  rapidity  that  gave  the  officer 
some  uneasiness,  I  believe.  Once  in  the  street,  however, 
my  pace  became  more  moderate ;  and  dropping  along-side 
of  the  attorney,  we  fell  into  discourse  on  the  subject  of  the 
arrangement. 

"To  be  frank  with  you,  Captain  Wallingford,"  said 
Meekly,  "my  client  never  expects  to  recover  the  full 
amount  of  his  demand :  it  being  understood  your  personals 
31* 


366  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

are  now  limited  to  certain  jewelry  ;  the  stock  of  your  late 
farm  ;  a  few  negroes  ;  a  sloop ;  some  furniture,  &c.  No, 
sir,  we  do  not  expect  to  obtain  the  whole  of  our  demand., 
Certain  securities  in  our  hands  will  extinguish  much  of  it, 
though  a  large  balance  will  remain." 

"  As  Mr.  Daggett  has  already  got  real  estate  richly  worth 
five-and-thirty  thousand  dollars,  and  which  brings  a  clear 
two  thousand  a-year, — to  say  nothing  of  its  advantages  as  a 
residence, — besides  bonds  and  mortgages  for  twenty  odd 
thousand  more,  I  am  fully  sensible  of  his  moderation.  The 
forty  thousand  dollars  I  owed  my  cousin  will  be  amply 
repaid,  to  his  heirs,  though  I  pass  my  life  in  jail." 

"  You  misapprehend  the  affair,  entirely.  Mr.  Daggett 
does  not  hold  Clawbonny  as  administrator  at  all ;  but  as  a 
purchaser  under  a  mortgage  sale.  He  did  not  buy  it  him 
self,  of  course ;  but  has  received  a  deed  from  a  nephew  of 
his,  who  was  a  bonci  Jide  bidder.  The  amount  bid, — five 
thousand,  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars, — is  duly  endorsed 
on  your  bond,  and  you  have  credit  for  it.  If  no  one  bid 
higher,  the  property  had  to  go." 

"  Yes,  sir :  I  very  well  understand  how  property  goes,  in 
the  absence  of  the  debtor,  at  forced  sales.  But  what  is  the 
nature  of  the  proposition  you  intend  to  make  ?" 

"  Mr.  Daggelt  understands  you  possess  some  very  valu 
able  pearls,  that  are  supposed  to  be  worth  one  thdusand 
dollars,  with  a  good  deal  of  plate,  &c.,  &c.  Now  he  pro 
poses  that  you  assign  to  the  estate  he  represents  all  your 
personals  at  an  appraisal,  when  he  will  credit  you  with  the 
amount,  and  suspend  proceedings  for  the  balance.  In  a 
word — give  you  time." 

"  And  what  idea  has  Mr.  Daggett  of  the  sum  I  should 
thus  receive  ?" 

"  He  is  disposed  to  be  liberal,  and  thinks  you  might  get 
credit  for  about  four  thousand  dollars." 

"  My  personal  property,  including  the  pearls  of  which 
you  speak,  quite  a  thousand  dollars  worth  of  plate,  even  at 
the  price  of  old  silver,  the  sloop,  the  stock,  horses,  carriages, 
farming  utensils,  and  without  counting  the  slaves,  all  of 
whom  I  intend  to  set  free,  if  the  law  will  allow  it,  must 
nearly  or  quite  double  that  sum,  sir.  Unless  Mr.  Daggett 
is  disposed  to  raise  his  views  of  the  value  of  my  effects,  ] 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  367 

should  prefer  to  remain  in  custody,  and  see  what  I  can  do 
by  private  sale.  As  he  will  receive  every  cent  of  the  secu 
rities  received  from  my  sister's  estate,  quite  $22,000,  and 
now  possesses  more  than  $5,000  from  Clawbonny,  the  ba 
lance  I  shall  really  owe  cannot  exceed  $13,000." 

"  Were  you  to  confess  judgment,  sir,  and  leave  the  pro 
perty  under  execution — " 

"  I  '11  do  nothing  of  the  sort,  Mr.  Meekly — on  that  subject 
my  mind  is  made  up.  One  forced  sale  is  quite  enough  for  a 
novice." 

"  We  shall  soon  reach  the  jail,  sir  —  perhaps  its  sight 
may—" 

"  It  will  not,  sir.  Whenever  Mr,  Daggett  shall  be  dis 
posed  to  receive  my  property  at  a  just  valuation,  I  may  be 
ready  to  arrange  the  matter  with  him,  for  I  have  no  dispo 
sition  to  deny  the  debt,  or  to  avoid  its  payment;  but,  as  he 
has  adopted  his  own  mode  of  proceeding,  I  am  ready  to 
abide  by  it.  Good  morning,  Mr.  Meekly ;  I  see  no  use  in 
your  accompanying  me  any  further." 

I  was  thus  decided,  because  I  saw  I  had  to  deal  with  an 
extortioner.  A  rogue  himself,  Mr.  Daggett  was  afraid  I 
might  get  rid  of  my  personal  property  before  he  could  issue 
an  execution  by  the  regular  mode;  and  he  anticipated 
frightening  or  constraining  me  into  an  arrangement.  It 
would  be  my  business  to  disappoint  him ;  and  I  assumed  an 
air  of  confidence  that  soon  shook  off  my  companion.  A 
few  minutes  later,  the  key  of  the  old  stone  debtor's  jail  was 
turned  upon  me.  I  had  a  little  money,  and  reluctant  to  be 
shut  up  with  the  company  I  found  in  the  building,  I  suc 
ceeded  in  procuring  a  small,  ill- furnished  room,  to  myself. 

These  preliminaries  were  hardly  settled,  when  Neb  was 
admitted  with  the  bag.  The  poor  fellow  had  been  in  tears; 
for  he  not  only  felt  for  me,  but  ne  felt  for  the  disgrace  and 
misfortune  which  had  alighted  on  the  whole  Clawbonny 
stock.  He  had  yet  to  learn  that  the  place  itself  was  gone, 
and  I  shrank  from  telling  him  the  fact;  for,  to  his  simple 
mind,  it  would  be  like  forcing  body  and  soul  asunder.  All 
the  negroes  considered  themselves  as  a  part  of  Clawbonny, 
and  a  separation  must  have  appeared  in  their  eyes  like  some 
natural  convulsion.  Neb  brought  me  a  letter.  It  was  sealed 
with  wax,  and  bore  the  impression  of  the  Hardinge  arras. 


368  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

There  was  also  an  envelop,  and  the  address  had  been  written 
by  Rupert.  In  short,  everything  about  this  letter  denoted 
ease,  fashion,  fastidiousness,  and  the  observance  of  forms. 
I  lost  no  time  in  reading  the  contents,  which  I  copy,  ver 
batim. 

"  Broadway,  Wednesday  morning. 
"  DEAR  WALLINGFORD, 

"  It  has  just  occurred  to  me  that  the  enclosed  may  be  of 
service  to  you  ;  and  I  reproach  myself  for  not  having  be 
thought  me  of  your  probable  necessities  when  I  saw  you. 
I  regret  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  ask  you  to  dine  with  me, 
en  famille,  to-day ;  but  Mrs.  Hardinge  has  company,  and 
we  are  engaged  out  every  other  day  this  week.  I  shall  fall 
in  with  you  again,  some  day,  however,  when  I  hope  to  be 
less  engaged.  Lucy  has  just  heard  of  your  safety  and  ar 
rival,  and  has  gone  to  write  a  note  to  my  father,  who  will 
be  glad  to  learn  you  are  still  in  the  land  of  the  living.  The 
General,  who  lives  with  us,  desires  to  be  mentioned,  and 
hopes  when  he  returns  to  England,  it  may  be  as  your  pas 
senger.  Adieu,  dear  Wallingford ;  I  shall  never  forget  our 
boyish  pranks,  which,  I  dare  say,  sometimes  cause  you  to 
smile. 

«  Your's,  &c. 

"  RUPERT  HARDINGE." 

This  letter  contained  a  bank-note  for  twenty  dollars !  Yes, 
the  man  to  whom  I  had  given  twenty  thousand  dollars,  sent 
me,  in  my  distress,  this  generous  donation,  to  relieve  my 
wants.  I  need  hardly  say,  I  sent  the  bank-note  back  to 
him,  by  the  hands  of  Neb,  on  the  instant,  with  a  cold  note 
of  acknowledgment.  I  had  no  occasion  for  his  charity, 
at  least. 

I  passed  a  most  uncomfortable  hour  alone,  after  Neb  waa 
gone.  Then  a  turnkey  came  to  inform  me  that  a  gentleman 
and  lady — a  clergyman,  he  believed — were  in  the  private 
parlour,  and  wished  to  see  me.  It  was  doubtless  Mr.  Har 
dinge — could  his  companion  be  Lucy  ?  I  was  too  anxious^ 
too  eager,  to  lose  any  time,  and,  rushing  toward  the  room, 
was  at  once  admitted.  There  they  were — Lucy  and  her 
father.  Neb  had  seen  Chloe,  in  calling  at  Rupert's  door — 
had  heard  much  and  told  much.  Mr  Hardinge  was  on  the 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  369 

point  of  going  in  quest  of  me ;  but,  learning  where  I  was, 
he  had  barely  given  his  daughter  time  to  put  on  a  hat  and 
shawl,  and  conducting  her  across  the  Park,  brought  her 
himself  to  visit  me  in  prison.  I  saw,  at  a  glance,  that  Lucy 
was  dreadfully  agitated ;  that  she  was  pale,  though  still 
handsomer  than  ever ;  and  that  she  was  Lucy  herself,  in 
character,  as  in  person. 

"  Miles,  my  dear,  dear  boy !"  cried  the  good  old  divine, 
folding  me  in  his  arms,  "  for  this  mercy,  may  God  alone 
receive  the  praise  !  Everybody  gave  you  up,  but  Lucy  and 
myself,  and  we  could  not,  would  not  believe  you,  too,  were 
lost  to  us  for  ever !" 

As  my  former  guardian  still  clasped  me  to  his  bosom,  as 
if  I  still  remained  a  child,  I  could  perceive  that  dear  Lucy 
was  weeping  as  if  ready  to  break  her  heart.  Then  she 
looked  up,  and  tried  to  smile ;  though  I  could  see  the  effort 
was  made  solely  on  my  account.  I  caught  her  extended 
hand,  and  kissed  it  over  and  over  again.  The  dear,  dear 
girl  trembled  in  every  fibre  of  her  body. 

"  All  my  misfortunes  are  forgotten,"  I  cried,  "  in  finding 
you  thus,  in  finding  you  unchanged,  in  finding  you  still 
Lucy  Hardinge  !" 

I  scarce  knew  what  I  was  uttering,  though  I  saw  Lucy's 
face  was  covered  with  blushes,  and  that  a  smile,  which  I 
found  of  inexplicable  signification,  now  rose  readily  enough 
to  her  beautiful  mouth.  On  the  whole,  I  think  there  must 
have  been  some  eight  or  ten  minutes,  during  which  neither 
of  the  three  knew  particularly  well  what  was  said  or  done. 
Lucy  was  both  smiles  and  tears ;  though  keen  anxiety  to 
know  what  had  occurred,  and  how  I  came  to  be  in  gaol, 
was  strongly  expressed  in  her  countenance,  as  well  as  in 
some  of  her  words.  As  for  myself,  I  was  beside  myself, 
and  acted  like  a  fool. 

After  a  time,  we  were  all  seated,  when  I  narrated  the 
manner  in  which  I  had  lost  my  ship,  and  the  reason  why 
Clawbonny  had  been  sold,  and  why  I  supposed  I  was  thus 
arrested. 

"  I  am  glad  my  cousin,  John  Wallingford,  had  no  concern 
with  these  transactions ;  though  I  deeply  regret  the  reason 
why  my  bond  has  passed  into  other  hands.  It  would  have 
rendered  my  misfortunes  still  harder  to  be  borne,  could  I  sup- 


370  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

pose  that  a  kinsman  had  laid  so  deep  a  plot  to  ruin  me, 
under  the  semblance  of  kindness.  His  death,  however,  sets 
that  point  at  rest." 

"  I  do  not  like  his  talking  of  making  you  his  heir,  and 
neglecting  to  do  it,"  rejoined  Mr.  Hardinge.  "  Men  should 
never  promise,  and  forget  to  redeem  their  words.  It  has  a 
suspicious  look." 

Lucy  had  not  spoken  the  whole  time  I  was  relating  my 
story.  Her  serene  eye  beamed  on  me  in  a  way  to  betray 
the  interest  she  felt;  but  not  a  syllable  escaped  her  until  her 
father  had  made  the  observation  just  given. 

"  It  is  of  no  moment,  now,"  she  then  said,  "  what  may 
have  been  the  motive  of  Mr.  John  Wallingford.  With 
Miles,  I  thought  him  a  rough,  but  an  honest  man ;  but 
honest  men  may  be  pardoned  for  not  foreseeing  their  own 
sudden  deaths.  The  question,  now,  my  dear  father,  is,  how 
Miles  can  be  got  out  of  this  wretched  place,  in  the  shortest 
possible  time." 

"  Ay,  Miles,  my  dear  boy :  heaven  forbid- you  should  sleep 
in  such  a  spot.  How  shall  we  go  to  work  ?" 

"  I  am  afraid,  sir,  I  shall  sleep  many  nights  here.  The 
debt  I  really  owe  is  about  thirteen  thousand  dollars ;  and  the 
writ,  I  believe,  is  issued  for  the  entire  penalty  of  the  bond. 
As  the  motive  for  arresting  me  is,  probably,  to  drive  me 
into  a  compromise,  by  confessing  judgment,  and  giving  up 
my  personal  property  to  be  sacrificed,  as  Clawbonny  has 
been,  it  is  not  probable  that  bail  for  a  less  amount  than  the 
law  allows  the  plaintiff  to  claim,  will  be  received.  I  do  not 
know  the  man  who  will  become  surety  for  me  in  tha; 
amount." 

"  Well,  I  know  two. — Rupert  and  myself." 

The  idea  of  receiving  such  a  favour  from  Rupert  was 
particularly  unpleasant  to  me ;  and  I  saw  by  the  expression 
of  Lucy's  face  that  she  entered  into  my  feelings. 

"  I  am  afraid,  sir,"  I  said,  after  thanking  Mr.  Hardinge 
by  a  warm  pressure  of  the  hand,  "  that  you  are  not  rich 
enough.  The  deputy  sheriff  has  told  me  he  has  instructions 
to  be  rigid  about  the  bail ;  and  I  apprehend  neither  you,  nor 
Rupert,  can  swear  he  is  worth  fifty  thousand  dollars." 

"  Bless  me ! — bless  me !    Is  that  really  necessary,  Miles  ?" 

"  If  required,  I  believe  the  law  insists  on  security  to  the 


MILES   WALLINGFORD.  371 

amount  of  the  judgment  claimed.  Rupert  lives  largely,  I 
see,  and  yet  I  doubt  if  he  would  be  willing  to  swear  to  that." 

Mr.  Hardinge's  face  became  very  sorrowful;  and  he 
paused  a  moment  before  answering. 

"  I  am  not  in  Rupert7s  secrets,  neither  is  Lucy,"  he  then 
said.  "I  hope  all  is  .ight:  though  the  thought  that  he 
might  possibly  play,  has  sometimes  crossed  my  anxious 
mind.  He  is  married  to  Miss  Merlon;  has  purchased  and 
furnished  a  Broadway  house,  and  is  living  at  a  large  rate. 
When  I  spoke  to  him  on  the  subject,  he  asked  me  if  I 
thought  *  English  ladies  of  condition  gave  empty  hands  in 
marriage  V  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  my  dear  Miles,  but  I 
always  fancied  that  the  Merlons  had  nothing  but  the 
Colonel's  salary  to  live  on." 

"  Major  Merton,"  I  answered,  laying  an  emphasis  on  the 
brevet  rank  the  worthy  individual  actually  possessed,  u  Ma 
jor  Merton  has  told  me  as  much  as  this,  himself," 

Mr.  Hardinge  actually  groaned,  and  I  saw  that  Lucy 
turned  pale  as  death.  The  former  had  no  knowledge  of  the 
true  character  of  his  son ;  but  be  had  all  the  apprehensions 
that  a  father  would  naturally  feel  under  such  circumstances. 
I  saw  the  necessity — nay,  the  humanity,  of  relieving  both, 

"  You  know  me  too  well,  my  dear  guardian — excellent 
Lucy — to  think  that  I  would  deliberately  deceive  either  of 
you.  What  I  now  tell  you,  is  to  prevent  Rupert  from  being 
too  harshly  judged.  I  know  whence  Rupert  derived  a  large 
sum  of  money,  previously  to  my  sailing.  It  was  legally 
obtained,  and  is,  or  was,  rightfully  his.  I  do  not  say  it  was 
large  enough  long  to  maintain  him  in  the  style  in  which  h« 
lives ;  but  it  can  so  maintain  him  a  few  years.  You  need 
fear  neither  cards,  nor  positive  dishonesty.  Rupert  has  no 
disposition  for  either :  he  dislikes  the  first,  and  is  too  pru 
dent  for  the  last." 

"  God  be  thanked  for  this !"  the  divine  exclaimed  devoutly. 
"  I  had  really  frightened  myself,  with  my  own  folly.  So, 
so,  Master  Rupert ;  you  have  been  making  money  and  hold 
ing  your  peace  !  Well,  I  like  his  modesty  ;  Rupert  is  clever, 
Miles,  and  I  trust  will  one  day  take  an  honourable  station  at 
the  bar.  His  marriage  has  been  a  little  too  early,  for  one 
of  his  means,  perhaps ;  but  I  feel  encouraged  now  that  1 


372  MILES     WAI/LINGFOR1>. 

find  he  can  make  money  honourably,  and  legally,  and  just 
ly." 

I  had  said  nothing  of  the  honourable,  or  the  just ;  but  what 
weakness  will  not  parental  affection  encourage?  As  for 
Lucy,  her  countenance  told  me  she  suspected  the  truth. 
Never  before  had  I  seen  on  those  usually  placid,  and  always 
lovely  features,  an  expression  of  so  much  humiliation. 
For  a  single  instant,  it  almost  amounted  to  anguish.  Re 
covering  her  self-possession,  however,  she  was  the  first  to 
turn  the  discourse  to  its  proper  channel. 

"  All  this  time,  we  are  forgetting  Miles,"  she  said.  "  It 
would  seem,  father,  that  he  thinks  neither  you,  nor  Rupertr 
rich  enough  to  be  his  bail — can  I  be  of  any  use,  in  this 
way  ?" 

Lucy  spoke  firmly,  and  in  the  manner  of  one  who  was 
beginning  to  be  accustomed  to  consider  herself  of  some  ac 
count  in  the  way  of  money ;  but,  a  bright  flush  suffused  her 
face,  as  she  thus  seemed  to  make  herself  of  more  moment 
than  was  her  wont — to  pass  out  of  her  sex,  as  it  might  be, 

"A  thousand  thanks,  dearest  Lucy, for  the  offer,"  I  said, 
eagerly,  "  but  could  you  become  my  bail,  I  certainly  would 
not  permit  it.  It  is  enough  that  you  come  to  visit  me  here, 
without  further  connecting  your  name  with  my  debts.  A 
minor,  however,  cannot  become  security.  Mr.  Daggett  will 
keep  me  here  a  few  weeks  ;  when  he  finds  I  am  employing 
agents  to  sell  my  effects,  I  fancy  he  is  sufficiently  a  rogue 
himself  to  apprehend  the  money  will  get  beyond  the  reach 
of  his  execution,  and  he  will  offer  to  compromise.  Once  at 
large,  I  can  always  go  to  sea ;  if  not  as  master,  at  least  as 
a  mate." 

"  Had  we  been  as  proud  as  yourself,  Miles,  Clawbonny 
would  have  been  less  dear  to  us." 

"  It  is  not  pride,  but  propriety,  Lucy,  to  prevent  you  from 
doing  a  thing  for  which  there  is  no  necessity,  and  which 
might  subject  you  to  impertinent  observations.  No,  I  '11  set 
about  disposing  of  my  personal  property  at  once ;  that  will 
soon  bring  Mr.  Daggett  to  some  sense  of  decency." 

"  If  a  minor  cannot  be  received  as  bail,  there  is  no  more 
to  be  said,"  Lucy  answered ;  "  else  would  I  prove  to  you, 
Miles,  that  I  can  be  as  obstinate  as  you  are  yourself.  At 
all  events,  I  can  be  a  purchaser  of  jewels,  if  wanting  a  few 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  373 

months  of  my  majority ;  fortunately,  1  have  nearly  a  year's 
income  on  hand.  You  see,  Miles," — Lucy  again  blushed 
brightly,  though  she  smiled—"  what  an  accountant  I  am 
getting  to  be — but,  I  can  commence  at  once  by  purchasing 
your  pearls.  They  are  already  in  my  possession  for  safe 
keeping,  and  many  is  the  covetous  glance  they  have  re 
ceived  from  me.  Those  precious  pearls  !  I  think  you  va 
lued  them  at  three  thousand  dollars,  Miles,"  Lucy  contin 
ued,  "  and  my  father  will  at  once  pay  you  that  sum  on  my 
behalf.  Then  send  for  the  lawyer  of  your  persecutor,  for  I 
can  call  him  nothing  else,  and  offer  to  pay  that  much  on  his 
demand  provided  he  will  accept  my  father  as  bail.  If  he 
be  the  sort  of  being  you  fancy  him,  and  so  his  acts  I  think 
prove  him  to  be,  he  will  be  glad  to  accept  the  offer." 

I  was  delighted  at  the  readiness  of  resources  this  proved 
in  Lucy,  nor  was  the  project  in  the  least  unlikely  to  suc 
ceed.  Could  I  get  four  or  five  thousand  dollars  together,  I 
had  no  doubt  Daggett  would  accept  Mr.  Hardinge  for  bail, 
as  it  was  only  as  surety  for  my  appearance  in  court.  That 
was  then  required,  and  no  one  could  really  think  I  would 
abscond  and  leave  my  old  guardian  in  the  lurch.  Still, 
I  could  not  think  of  thus  robbing  Lucy.  Left  to  her  own 
sense  of  propriety,  I  well  knew  she  would  never  dream  of 
investing  so  large  a  sum  as  the  pearls  were  really  worth,  in 
ornaments  for  her  person;  and  the  pearls  were  worth  but 
little  more  than  half  the  sum  she  had  named. 

"This  will  not  do,"  I  answered,  expressing  my  gratitude 
with  my  eyes,  "  and  no  more  need  be  said  about  it.  I  can 
not  rob  you,  dearest  Lucy,  because  you  are  so  ready  to  sub 
mit  to  be  robbed.  Leave  me  here  a  few  days,  and  Mr. 
Meekly  will  come  to  volunteer  a  plan  of  setting  me  free." 

"  I  have  it !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Hardinge,  jumping  up  and 
seizing  his  hat.  "  Lucy,  I  '11  be  back  in  fifteen  minutes; 
then  we'll  bear  Miles  off  in  triumph,  to  your  own  house. 
Yes,  yes,  the  scheme  cannot  fail,  with  a  lawyer  of  any  re 
spectability." 

"  May  I  know  what  it  is,  dear  papa  ?"  Lucy  asked,  glancing 
expressively  towards  me. 

"  Why,  it 's  just  this.     I  '11  go  and  find  the  bishop,  who  '11 
do  anything  to  oblige  me,  and  he  and  I'll  go,  in  company, 
to  this  Mr.  Meekly 's  office,  and  pledge  our  words  as  divines, 
32 


374 


MILES     WALLINGFORD. 


that  Miles  shall  appear  in  court,  as  the  under-sheriff  told 
me  would  be  required,  when  all  will  be  settled  to  our  heart's 
content.  On  my  way  to  the  bishop's,  I  '11  just  stop  in  at 
Richard  Harrison's  office,  and  take  his  opinion  in  the 
matter." 

"  Well,  sir,  the  notion  of  seeing  Richard  Harrison  is  a 
good  one.  He  may  suggest  something  in  the  way  of  prac 
tice  that  will  be  useful  to  us.  If  you  could  step  across  the 
way,  and  get  him  to  pay  me  a  short  visit,  I  should  be  infi 
nitely  obliged  to  you.  I  was  about  to  take  his  advice  on 
the  subject  of  my  insurance  when  arrested,  and  I  wish  that 
point  disposed  of." 

Mr.  Hardinge  listened  attentively,  and  then  he  left  the 
room,  telling  Lucy  he  would  be  back  in  a  few  minutes.  It 
might  have  been  an  awkward  situation  for  most  young  la 
dies,  thus  to  be  left  alone  with  a  prisoner  in  gaol ;  but  £ucy 
was  so  much  accustomed  to  the  intimacy  that  bound  us  to 
gether,  I  do  not  think  its  peculiarities  struck  her  at  the  mo 
ment.  When  her  father  went  out  of  the  room,  she  was  in 
deep  thought,  nor  did  she  appear  to  rouse  herself  from  it,  un 
til  he  had  been  gone  some  little  time.  Lucy  was  seated,  but  I 
had  risen  to  see  Mr.  Hardinge  to  the  door  of  the  room,  and 
was  walking  slowly  back  and  forth.  The  dear  girl  arose, 
came  to  me,  took  one  of  my  hands  in  both  her  own,  and 
looked  anxiously  into  my  face,  for  some  little  time,  ere  she 
spoke. 

"  Miles,"  she  said,  "  I  will  say  no  more  of  the  pearls,  no 
more  of  my  own  money,  and  will  prevent  all  allusion  to 
Rupert's  appearing  in  your  behalf,  if  you  will  accept  the 
bail  I  can  provide  for  you.  I  know  a  gentleman  who  will 
accept  my  word  as  his  surety,  who  is  rich  enough  to  be  re 
ceived,  and  who  is  under  a  deep  obligation  to  you,  for  1 
have  often  heard  him  say  as  much.  You  may  not  know 
how  ready  he  will  be  to  oblige  you,  but  I  do ;  and  I  now 
ask  you  to  give  me  your  word  ;  you  will  not  refuse  his  as 
sistance,  even  though  he  should  be  an  utter  stranger  to 
you  ?" 

"  How  is  it  possible,  Lucy,  that  you  can  have  any  know 
ledge  of  such  a  person  ?" 

*'  Oh !  you  cannot  imagine  what  a  woman  of  business  I 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  375 

am  becoming !  You  would  not  refuse  me  for  your  bail, 
were  I  a  man  and  of  age,  Miles  ?" 

"  Certainly  not — feeling  as  I  do  towards  you,  Lucy,  1 
would  sooner  receive  such  a  favour  from  you,  than  from  any 
human  being.  But  you  are  not  a  man,  thank  God,  nor  of 
age." 

"  Then  promise  me  the  small  favour  of  accepting  this 
service  from  the  person  I  shall  send  to  you.  It  would  break 
all  our  hearts  to  think  you  were  remaining  here  in  gaol, 
while  we  are  living  in  luxury.  I  will  not  relinquish  your 
hand,  till  you  give  me  a  promise." 

"  That  look  is  sufficient,  Lucy ;  I  promise  all  you  can 
ask." 

So  intense  had  the  feelings  of  the  dear  girl  become,  that 
she  burst  into  tears,  the  moment  her  mind  was  relieved,  and 
covered  her  face  with  both  hands.  It  was  but  a  passing 
burst  of  feeling,  and  a  radiant  smile  soon  chased  every 
trace  of  sorrow  from  her  sweet,  sweet  countenance. 

"  Now,  Miles,  I  am  certain  we  shall  soon  have  you  out 
of  this  horrid  place,"  she  cried ;  "  and  before  the  execution 
they  tell  us  of,  can  issue,  as  they  call  it,  we  shall  have  time 
to  make  some  proper  arrangement  for  you.  I  shall  be  of 
age,  by  that  time ;  and  I  can  at  least  become  your  creditor, 
instead  of  that  odious  Mr.  Daggett.  You  would  not  hesitate 
to  owe  me  money,  Miles,  in  preference  to  him  ?" 

"  Dearest  Lucy,  there  is  nothing  I  would  not  be  willing 
to  owe  to  you,  and  that  in  preference  to  any  other  living 
creature,  not  even  excepting  your  revered  and  beloved 
father." 

Lucy  looked  deeply  gratified ;  and  I  saw  another  of  those 
inexplicable  smiles  lurking  around  her  lovely  mouth,  which 
almost  tempted  me  to  demand  an  explanation  of  its  meaning. 
Ere  there  was  time  for  this,  however,  her  countenance  be 
came  very,  very  sad,  and  she  turned  her  tearful  eyes  toward 
me. 

"  Miles,  I  fear  I  understood  your  allusion,  when  you  spoke 
of  Rupert's  money,"  she  said.  "  I  feared  poor,  sainted 
Grace  would  do  this ;  and  I  knew  you  would  strip  yourself 
of  every  dollar  to  comply  with  her  wishes.  I  wonder  the 
idea  never  occurred  to  me  before ;  but  it  is  so  hard  to  think 
ill  of  a  brother  !  I  ask  no  questions,  for  I  see  you  are  de- 


876  MILES     WALLINOFORD. 

termined  not  to  answer  them — perhaps  have  given  a  pledge 
to  your  sister  to  that  effect :  but  we  cannot  live  under  this 
disgrace  ;  and  the  day  I  am  twenty-one,  this  grievous,  griev 
ous  wrong  must  be  repaired.  I  know  that  Grace's  fortune 
had  accumulated  to  more  than  twenty  thousand  dollars  ;  and 
that  is  a  sum  sufficient  to  pay  all  you  owe,  and  to  leave  you 
enough  to  begin  the  world  anew." 

"  Even  were  what  you  fancy  true,  do  you  think  I  would 
consent  to  rob  you,  to  pay  Rupert's  debts  ?" 

"  Talk  not  of  robbery.  I  could  not  exist  under  the  de 
gradation  of  thinking  any  of  us  had  your  money,  while 
debt  and  imprisonment  thus  hung  over  you.  There  is  but 
one  thing  that  can  possibly  prevent  my  paying  you  back 
Grace's  fortune,  the  day  I  am  of  age,  as  you  will  see, 
Miles." 

Again  that  inexplicable  smile  passed  over  Lucy's  face, 
and  I  was  resolved  to  ask  its  meaning,  when  the  approach 
ing  footstep  of  Mr.  Hardinge  prevented  it. 

"  Mr.  Harrison  is  not  in,"  cried  the  divine,  as  he  entered 
the  room ;  "  but  I  left  a  note  for  him,  telling  him  that  his 
old  acquaintance,  Captain  Wallingford,  had  pressing  need 
of  his  services.  He  has  gone  to  Greenwich,  to  his  country 
place,  but  will  be  back  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  I  have 
desired  he  will  come  to  Wall  street,  the  instant  he  can.  I 
would  not  blazon  your  misfortunes,  Miles ;  but  the  moment 
he  arrives,  you  shall  hear  from  him.  He  is  an  old  school 
fellow  of  mine,  and  will  be  prompt  to  oblige  me.  Now, 
Miss  Lucy,  I  am  about  to  release  you  from  prison.  I  saw 
a  certain  Mr.  Drewett  walking  in  the  direction  of  Wall- 
street,  and  had  the  charity  to  tell  him  you  would  be  at 
home  in  ten  minutes." 

Lucy  arose  with  an  alacrity  I  could  hardly  forgive.  The 
colour  deepened  on  her  face,  and  I  thought  she  even  hurried 
her  father  away,  in  a  manner  that  was  scarcely  sufficiently 
reserved.  Ere  they  left  the  room,  however,  the  dear  girl 
took  an  opportunity  to  say,  in  a  low  voice,  "  Remember, 
Miles,  I  hold  you  strictly  to  your  promise :  in  one  hour,  you 
shall  be  free." 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  377 


CHAPTEK  XXYIII. 


•*  She  half-enclosed  me  in  her  arms, 

She  pressed  me  with  a  meek  embrace ; 
And  bending  back  her  head,  looked  up 
And  gazed  upon  my  face." 

COLERIDGE. 

I  SAW  no  one  for  the  next  two  hours.  A  window  of  the 
parlour,  where  I  was  permitted  to  remain,  overlooked  the 
soi-disant  park  —  or  rather  Manhattan-disant — and  it  was 
not  long  before  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  my  mate  and  Neb, 
lying  off  and  on,  or  blockading  the  jail,  lest  I  should  be  se 
cretly  carried  to  parts  unknown,  or  some  other  great  evil 
should  approach  me  from  without.  What  these  two  honest 
and  affectionate  fellows  meant  by  thus  maintaining  their 
post,  I  did  not  know,  it  is  true  ;  but  such  was  my  conjecture. 
At  length  Neb  disappeared,  and  was  absent  an  hour.  When 
he  returned,  he  had  a  coil  of  rope  over  his  shoulder,  when 
the  two  took  a  station  at  a  safe  distance  from  my  prison, 
and  began  to  measure  off  fathoms,  to  cut,  knot  and  splice. 
I  was  amused  with  their  diligence,  which  made  no  abate 
ment  until  it  was  interrupted  by  myself.  Of  the  manner  in 
which  that  was  effected  I  shall  have  occasion  to  speak  pre 
sently. 

About  two  hours  after  I  was  left  by  Lucy  and  her  father, 
a  keeper  came  to  announce  another  visitor.  I  was  expecting 
my  own  attorney  or  Mr.  Harrison ;  but  the  reader  will  judge 
of  my  surprise  when  Andrew  Drewett  entered  the  room. 
He  was  accompanied  by  the  jailer,  who  held  a  letter  in  his 
hand,  and  who  astounded  me  by  saying — 

"  Captain  Wallingford,  I  have  instructions  here  to  open 
the  door  for  you — bail  has  been  entered." 

The  jailer  disappeared. 

"  And  this  I  owe  to  you,  Mr.  Drewett !" 

"  I  wish  I  could  say  as  much,  with  all  my  heart,  my  dear 
sir,"  Andrew  replied,  taking  my  hand,  and  giving  it  a  warm, 
cordial  shake ;  "  but  it  would  not  be  strictly  true.  After 
32* 


378  MILES    WALLING  FORD. 

saving  my  life,  I  should  not  have  suffered  you  to  lie  in  jail 
for  want  of  so  small  a  favour  as  giving  bail  for  your  appear 
ance  in  court,  certainly  ;  but  would,  and  will,  gladly  be  your 
special  bail,  at  the  proper  time.  Let  the  credit  fall,  however, 
only  where  it  is  due.  Miss  Hardinge  asked  me  to  obtain 
your  release,  and  her  wishes  are  second  only  to  my  own 
gratitude." 

This  was  said  in  a  frank,  manly  manner ;  and  I  wonder 
ed  I  had  never  viewed  Andrew  Drewett  in  a  light  so  favour 
able  before.  He  had  improved  in  person,  bore  himself  like 
a  gentleman  I  now  thought,  and  was  every  way  a  pleasing, 
well-mannered,  well-dressed,  and  intelligent-looking  young 
man.  I  could  do  all  justice  to  him  but  pardon  him  Lucy's 
preference. 

"  Lucy  can  never  forget  our  childish  intimacy,"  I  said,  a 
little  confused*  "  She  left  me,  declaring  an  intention  to  do 
something  of  the  sort ;  though  I  confess  I  was  not  exactly 
prepared  for  this.  You  are  a  man  to  be  envied,  Mr.  Drewett, 
if  any  man  on  earth  is !" 

Andrew  looked  embarrassed.  He  glanced  at  me,  colour 
ed,  turned  his  look  out  at  the  window,  then,  by  a  vast  effort, 
seemed  to  regain  his  self-command. 

"I  believe  I  understand  you,  Wallingford,"  he  said. 
"  You  mean,  in  being  engaged  to  Lucy  Hardinge  ?" 

"  I  can  mean  nothing  else — all  I  hear — all  I  have  seen — 
this  last  act,  in  particular,  tells  me  as  much." 

"  All  have  then  told  you  wrong.  I  am  not  so  fortunate 
as  to  possess  the  affections  of  Miss  Hardinge ;  and  no  man 
will  gain  her  hand  who  does  not  first  obtain  her  heart ;  ay, 
and  her  whole  heart,  too." 

I  was  astounded !  What !  Lucy  not  engaged  to  Drewett ; 
not  loving  him,  by  his  own  admission ;  not  likely  to  love 
him !  I  believe  Andrew  had  no  difficulty  in  comprehending 
my  feelings  in  part,  for  he  seemed  disposed  to  continue  the 
subject ;  and,  what  was  infinitely  to  his  credit,  to  continue 
it  in  a  way  that  should  leave  no  unpleasant  uncertainty 
hanging  about  the  real  position  of  the  dear  girl. 

"  It  is  only  quite  lately,"  he  said,  "  that  I  have  seen  the 
great  injustice  that  I  and  my  family  have  unconsciously 
committed  towards  Miss  Hardinge.  As  you  are  an  old — a 
eery  old  friend  of  hers,  I  will  be  explicit  with  you,  and  en 


MILES    WALLINOFORD.  379 

deavour,  in  some  small  degree,  to  excuse  myself;  though  I 
feel  that  it  can  never  be  done  fully.  You  tell  me,  that  you 
have  heard  I  was  engaged  to  Miss  Hardinge  1" 

**  Unquestionably :  I  think  it  was  the  opinion  of  her  own 
father;  though  he  must  have  believed  the  promise  condi 
tional,  as  Lucy  never  would  marry  without  his  approba 
tion." 

"  Mr.  Hardinge  has  then  been  strangely  misled.  It  is 
true,  Mr.  Wallingford,  that  I  have  long  admired  Miss  Har 
dinge,  and  that  I  offered  myself  years  ago.  I  was  refused 
from  the  first.  But,  Lucy  had  the  frankness  to  own  that 
she  was  free  to  dispose  of  her  hand ;  and  I  persevered  con 
trary  to  her  advice,  her  wishes,  and  I  may  say,  her  entrea 
ties.  I  think  she  esteems  me ;  and  I  know  she  has  a  strong 
regard  for  my  mother,  who  is  almost  as  fond  of  her  as  I  am 
myself.  This  esteem  and  regard  I  hoped  might  ripen  into 
love,  and  my  presumption  has  brought  its  own  punishment. 
It  is  now  about  six  months — I  remember  it  was  shortly 
after  we  heard  of  your  probable  loss — that  I  had  a  final 
conversation  with  her  on  the  subject,  when  I  became  con 
vinced  my  prospects  were  hopeless.  Since  that  time,  I  have 
endeavoured  to  conquer  my  passion;  for  love  unrequited,  I 
suppose  you  know,  will  not  last  for  ever ;  and  I  have  so  far 
succeeded,  as  to  tell  you  all  this  without  feeling  the  pain  it 
would  once  have  cost  me.  Still,  I  retain  the  deepest  respect 
for  Miss  Hardinge ;  and  a  single  encouraging  look  would 
even  now  recall  me.  I  am  of  opinion,  however,  she  intends 
never  to  marry.  But,  let  us  quit  this  place,  which  has  no 
longer  any  claim  on  you." 

I  was  in  a  state  scarcely  to  know  what  I  did.  It  was 
comparatively  little  to  me  to  learn  I  was  free  myself,  after 
so  unexpectedly  learning  that  Lucy  was  also  free.  Lucy — • 
whom  I  had  for  years  supposed  to  be  irrevocably  engaged ; 
and  whom  I  had  continued  to  love,  even  against  hope  An 
drew  Drewett,  I  fancied,  had  never  loved  as  I  did,  or  he 
would  not  have  made  the  speech  he  did ;  or,  his  love  for 
Lucy  had  not  been  a  part  of  his  existence  from  boyhood, 
as.  mine  had  certainly  been.  While  all  these  thoughts  were 
passing  through  my  mind,  I  gave  a  few  directions,  took 
Drewett's  arm,  and  hurried  out  of  the  gaol. 

I  confess  that  I  respired  more  freely  when  I  found  myself 


380  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

in  the  open  air.  My  companion  took  my  direction,  and  I 
led  him  to  the  spot  where  Marble  and  Neb  were  still  at  work 
on  their  rope.  Great  was  their  surprise  on  seeing  me  at 
large ;  and  I  thought  the  mate  looked  a  little  disappointed, 
though  he  comprehended  the  matter  at  once,  as  soon  as  he 
saw  Drewett. 

"  If  you  had  only  waited  till  night,  Miles,"  Marble  said, 
shaking  his  head  as  one  menaces,  "  Neb  and  I  would  have 
shown  that  bloody  gaol  a  seaman's  fashion  of  quitting  it. 
I  'm  almost  sorry  the  occasion  is  lost,  for  it  would  have  done 
their  stomachs  good  to  wake  up  at  two  bells,  and  find  their 
cage  empty.  I've  half  a  mind  to  ask  you  to  go  back, 
boy !" 

"  But  I  've  no  mind  to  comply  with  the  request ;  so  do 
me  the  favour  to  have  my  bag  carried  back  to  our  lodgings, 
where  I  intend  to  swing  my  hammock,  again,  to-night. — 
Mr.  Drewett,  I  must  hasten  to  thank  her  to  whom  I  owe  my 
freedom  ; — will  you  accompany  me  ?" 

Andrew  excused  himself;  and  receiving  my  thanks,  once 
more  we  parted  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hands.  I  then 
hastened  towards  Wall  street,  and  knocked  at  Lucy's  door ; 
(there  were  knockers  to  good  houses  in  New  York,  in  1804, 
a  vile  nuisance  having  been  since  well  gotten  rid  of,)  and  I 
knocked  at  Lucy's  door,  scarce  conscious  of  the  manner  in 
which  I  had  got  there.  It  was  near  the  dinner-hour,  and 
the  footman  was  demurring  about  admitting  a  sailor-man, 
who  hardly  knew  what  he  said,  when  a  little  scream  from 
Chloe,  who  happened  to  see  me,  soon  disposed  of  my  claim 
for  an  entrance. 

"Masser  Mile! — Masser  Mile! — I  so  grad — dat  feller, 
Neb,  say  you  come  home — Oh  !  Masser  Mile,  now  I  know 
dat  de  rascal  at  Clawbonny  get  druv'  off!" 

This  speech,  confident  as  it  was,  a  little  cooled  my  ardour 
by  reminding  me  I  was  a  beggar,  in  the  figurative  meaning 
of  the  word.  Chloe  led  the  way,  however,  and  I  was  soon  in 
the  drawing-room,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  youthful  mis 
tress  of  the  house.  How  gloriously  beautiful  did  Lucy  then 
appear!  She  had  dressed  for  dinner,  as  usual,  but  it  was  in 
the  simplest  and  neatest  manner.  Her  face  was  radiant  with 
the  pleasure  of  seeing  me  where  I  was,  and  excitement  had 
leepened  the  colour  on  her  cheeks,  which  were  never  pale, 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  38 

except  with  emotions.    As  for  her  eyes,  I  can  only  describe 
them  by  the  homely  phrase,  that  "  they  danced  for  joy." 

"  Now,  Miles,"  she  said,  holding  out  both  hands  to  meet 
me,  "  this  is  redeeming  your  pledge,  and  behaving  as  you 
should.  Andrew  Drewett  was  delighted  with  an  opportu 
nity  of  doing  something  for  the  man  who  saved  his  life,  and 
my  only  fear  was  of  your  obstinacy." 

"  After  all  I  have  heard  from  Andrew  Drewett,  beloved 
Lucy,  you  never  need  fear  anything  from  my  obstinacy 
hereafter.  He  not  only  has  released  my  body  from  prison 
but  he  has  released  my  spirits  from  the  weight  of  a  moun 
tain,  by  honestly  confessing  you  do  not  love  him." 

The  play  of  roseate  light  on  an  autumnal  sky  at  evening, 
is  not  more  beautiful,  than  the  changing  tints  that  passed 
over  Lucy's  beautiful  face.  She  did  not  speak,  at  first ;  but 
so  intent,  so  inquiring  was  her  look,  while  at  the  same  time, 
it  was  so  timid  and  modest,  that  I  scarce  needed  the  ques 
tion  that  she  finally  succeeded  in  asking. 

"  What  is  it,  you  wish  to  say,  Miles  ?"  at  length  came 
from  her  in  faltering  tones. 

"  To  ask  to  be  permitted  to  keep  these  hands  for  ever.  Not 
one,  Lucy  ;  one  will  not  satisfy  a  love  like  mine,  a  love 
that  has  got  to  be  interwoven  with  my  being,  from  having 
formed  a  part  of  my  very  existence  from  boyhood ;  yes, 
I  ask  for  both." 

"  You  have  them  both,  dear,  dear  Miles,  and  can  keep 
them  as  long  as  you  please." 

Even  while  this  was  in  the  course  of  utterance,  the  hands 
were  snatched  from  me  to  be  applied  to  their  owner's  face, 
and  the  dear  girl  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears.  I  folded  her 
in  my  arms,  seated  myself  at  her  side  on  a  sofa,  and  am  not 
ashamed  to  say  that  we  wept  together.  I  shall  not  reveal  all 
that  passed  during  the  next  quarter  of  an  hour,  nor  am  I 
quite  certain  that  I  could  were  I  to  make  the  attempt,  but  I 
well  recollect  my  arm  was  around  Lucy's  slender  waist,  at 
the  end  of  that  brief  period.  What  was  said  was  not  very 
coherent,  nor  do  I  know  that  anybody  would  care  to  hear, 
or  read  it. 

"  Why  have  you  so  long  delayed  to  tell  me  this,  Miles  ?" 
Lucy  at  length  inquired,  a  little  reproachfully.  "  You  who 
have  had  so  many  opportunities,  and  might  have  known 


382  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

how  it  would  have  been  received !  How  much  misery  and 
suffering  it  would  have  saved  us  both  !" 

"  For  that  which  it  has  caused  t/ow,  dearest,  I  shall  never 
forgive  myself;  but  as  for  that  I  have  endured,  it  is  only  too 
well  merited.  But  I  thought  you  loved  Drewett ;  everybody 
said  you  were  to  marry  him ;  even  your  own  father  believed 
and  told  me  as  much — " 

"  Poor,  dear  papa  ! — He  little  knew  my  heart.  One  thing, 
however,  he  did  that  would  have  prevented  my  ever  mar 
rying  any  one,  Miles,  so  long  as  you  lived." 

"  Heaven  for  ever  bless  him  for  that,  as  well  as  for  all 
his  other  good  deeds  ?  What  was  it,  Lucy  ?" 

"  When  we  heard  of  the  supposed  loss  of  your  ship,  he 
believed  it,  but  I  did  not.  Why  I  did  not  believe  what  all 
around  me  thought  was  true,  is  more  than  I  can  explain, 
unless  Providence  humanely  sustained  me  by  hope.  But 
when  my  father  thought  you  dead,  in  conversing  of  all  your 
good  qualities,  Miles, — and  he  loved  you  almost  as  well  as 
his  daughter" — 

"  God  bless  him,  dear  old  gentleman ! — -but  what  did  he 
tell  you,  Lucy  ?" 

"  You  will  never  learn,  if  you  thus  interrupt  me,  Miles," 
Lucy  answered,  smiling  saucily  in  my  face,  though  she  per 
mitted  me  still  to  hold  both  her  hands,  as  if  I  had  taken 
possession  of  them  literally  with  an  intent  to  keep  them, 
blushing  at  the  same  time  as  much  with  happiness,  I  thought, 
as  with  the  innate  modesty  of  her  nature.  "  Have  a  little 
patience,  and  I  will  tell  you.  When  my  father  thought  you 
dead,  he  told  me  the  manner  in  which  you  had  confessed  to 
him  the  preference  you  felt  for  me ;  and  do  you,  can  you 
think,  after  I  was  thus  put  in  possession  of  such  a  secret,  I 
could  listen  to  Andrew  Drewett,  or  to  any  one  else?" 

I  shall  not  reveal  what  followed  this  speech ;  but  I  may 
say  that,  in  the  course  of  the  next  ten  minutes,  Lucy  mildly 
reproached  me  again  for  having  so  long  delayed  my  decla 
ration. 

"  I  knew  you  so  well,  Miles,"  she  continued,  smiling — as 
for  blushing,  that  she  did  nearly  the  whole  of  the  remainder 
of  the  day — "  I  know  you  so  well,  Miles,  that  I  am  afraid 
I  should  have  made  the  declaration  myself,  had  you  not 


MILES   WALLINOFORD.  383 

found  your  tongue.  Silly  fellow !  how  could  you  suppose 
I  would  ever  love  any  but  you  ? — see  here !" 

She  drew  the  locket  I  had  given  her  from  her  dress,  and 
placed  it  in  my  hands,  still  warm  from  lying  near  her  heart ! 
I  had  no  choice,  but  to  kiss  Lucy  again,  or  to  kiss  this 
locket ;  and  I  did  both,  by  way  of  leaving  no  further  grounds 
for  self-reproach.  I  say,  kiss  her  again,  for,  to  own  the 
truth,  I  had  already  done  so  many  times  in  that  interview. 

At  length,  Chloe  put  her  head  in  at  the  door,  having  taken 
the  precaution  first  to  give  a  gentle  tap,  to  inquire  if  dinner 
should  be  served.  Lucy  dined  at  four,  and  it  was  now 
drawing  toward  five. 

"  Has  my  father  come  in  ?"  demanded  the  young  mistress 
of  her  attendant. 

"  Not  yet,  Miss  Lucy ;  but  he  nebber  t'ink  much  of  din 
ner,  Miss  Lucy,  ma'am ;  and  masser  Mile  been  so  long  a 
sailor,  dat  I  t'ink  he  must  be  hungry.  I  hear  dat  he  hab 
berry  hard  time,  dis  v'y'ge,  Miss  Lucy — too  hard  for  old 
masser  and  missus  son  !" 

"  Ay,  you  have  seen  Neb,  if  the  truth  were  told,  Miss 
Chloe,"  I  cried  ;  "  and  he  has  been  charming  your  ear  with 
Othello-tales,  of  his  risks  and  hardships,  to  make  you  love 
him." 

I  cannot  say  that  Chloe  actually  blushed,  or,  if  she  did, 
the  spectators  were  none  the  wiser  for  the  weakness.  But 
dark  as  was  the  skin  of  this  honest-hearted  girl,  she  had 
most  affectionate  feelings,  and  even  her  features  could  be 
tray  the  emotions  she  entertained. 

"  De  feller !"  she  exclaimed. — "  What  Miss  Lucy  please 
order  ?  Shall  'e  cook  dish  up  ?" 

"  We  will  have  dinner,"  Lucy  answered,  with  a  smile, 
Chloe's  eyes  dancing  with  a  sort  of  wild  delight.  "  Tell  John 
to  serve  it.  Mr.  Hardinge  will  be  home  soon,  in  all  proba 
bility.  We  shall  be  only  us  three,  at  table." 

The  mentioning  of  the  table  caused  me  to  cast  an  eye  at 
my  dress ;  and  the  sight  of  my  mate's  attire,  neat  and  in 
truth  becoming  as  it  was,  to  one  who  had  no  reason  to  be 
ashamed  of  his  figure,  caused  me  to  recollect  my  poverty, 
and  to  feel  one  twinge  at  the  distance  that  the  world  might 
fancy  its  own  opinions  placed  between  us.  As  for  birth, 
my  own  family  was  too  respectable,  and  my  education  had 


384  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

been  too  good,  to  leave  me  now  any  very  keen  regrets  on 
such  a  subject,  in  a  state  of  society  like  ours ;  but  there 
was  truly  a  wide  chasm  between  the  heiress  of  Mrs.  Brad- 
fort  and  a  penniless  mate  of  a  ship.  Lucy  understood  me ; 
and,  slipping  her  arm  through  mine,  she  walked  into  the 
library,  saying  archly,  as  she  drew  me  gently  along — 

"  It  is  a  very  easy  thing,  Miles,  to  get  skirts  made  to  your 
round-about." 

"  No  doubt,  Lucy ;  but,  with  whose  money  ?  I  have  been 
in  such  a  tumult  of  happiness,  as  to  have  forgotten  that  I  am 
a  beggar ;  that  I  am  not  a  suitable  match  for  you  !  Had  I 
only  Clawbonny,  I  should  feel  less  humiliated.  With  Claw- 
bonny  I  could  feel  myself  entitled  to  some  portion  of  the 
world's  consideration." 

We  were  in  the  library  by  this  time.  Lucy  looked  at  me 
a  moment,  intently ;  and  I  could  see  she  was  pained  at  my 
allusion.  Taking  a  little  key  from  a  cabinet  where  she  kept 
it,  she  opened  a  small  drawer,  and  showed  me  the  identical 
gold  pieces  that  had  once  been  in  my  possession,  and  which 
I  had  returned  to  her,  after  my  first  voyage  to  sea.  I  per 
ceived  that  the  pearls  she  had  obtained  under  Grace's  be 
quest,  as  well  as  those  which  were  my  own  property,  if  I 
could  be  said  to  own  anything,  were  kept  in  the  same  place. 
Holding  the  gold  in  the  palm  of  a  little  hand  that  was  as 
Boft  as  velvet  and  as  white  as  ivory,  she  said — 

"  You  once  took  all  I  had,  Miles,  and  this  without  pre 
tending  to  more  than  a  brother's  love ;  why  should  you 
hesitate  to  do  it  again,  now  you  say  you  wish  to  become  my 
husband?" 

"  Precious  creature !  I  believe  you  will  cure  me  of  even 
my  silly  pride."  Then  taking  up  the  pearls,  I  threw  them 
on  her  neck,  where  they  hung  in  a  long  chain,  rivalling  the 
skin  with  which  they  came  in  contact  —  "  There  —  I  have 
said  these  pearls  should  be  an  offering  to  my  wife,  and  I 
now  make  it ;  though  I  scarce  know  how  they  are  to  be 
kept  from  the  grasp  of  Daggett." 

Lucy  kissed  the  pearls — I  knew  she  did  not  do  it  on  ac 
count  of  any  love  for  them — and  tears  came  into  her  eyes. 
I  believe  she  had  long  waited  to  receive  this  gift,  in  the  pre 
cise  character  in  which  it  was  now  received. 

"  Thank  you,  dear  Miles',"  she  said.  "  You  see  how  freely 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  385 

I  accept  your  gifts ;  and  why  should  you  hesitate  to  receive 
mine  ?  As  for  this  Mr.  Daggett,  it  will  be  easy  enough  to 
get  rid  of  his  claim.  I  shall  be  of  age  before  he  can  bring 
his  cause  to  trial,  as  I  learn ;  then  nothing  will  be  easier 
than  for  Miles  Wailingford  to  pay  all  his  debts ;  for  by  that 
time,  all  that  is  now  mine  will  be  yours.  No  —  no  —  this 
Mr.  Daggett  shall  not  easily  rob  me  of  this  precious  gift." 

"  Rupert" — I  said,  by  way  of  getting  her  answer. 

"  Rupert  will  not  influence  my  conduct,  any  further  than 
I  shall  insist  on  returning  every  dollar  he  has  received  from 
you,  in  the  name  of  our  sainted  Grace.  But  I  hear  my 
father's  voice,  and  speaking  to  some  other  person.  I  had 
hoped  we  should  dine  alone !" 

The  door  of  the  library  opened,  and  Mr.  Hardinge  enter 
ed,  followed  by  a  grave-looking,  elderly  man,  of  respectable 
mien,  and  a  manner  that  denoted  one  accustomed  to  deal 
with  matters  of  weight.  I  knew  this  person  at  once  to  be 
Richard  Harrison,  then  one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers 
of  America,  and  the  gentleman  to  whom  I  had  been  carried 
by  John  Wailingford,  when  the  latter  pressed  me  to  make 
my  will.  Mr.  Harrison  shook  me  cordially  by  the  hand, 
after  saluting  Lucy,  whom  he  knew  intimately.  I  saw  at 
once  that  something  unusual  was  working  in  his  mind.  This 
highly  respectable  advocate  was  a  man  of  method  and  of 
great  coolness  of  manner  in  the  management  of  affairs,  and 
he  proceeded  to  business  at  once,  using  very  little  circum 
locution. 

"  I  have  been  surprised  to  hear  that  my  worthy  client  and 
friend,  Mr.  John  Wailingford,  is  dead,"  he  observed.  "  I  do 
not  know  how  his  decease  should  have  escaped  my  notice 
in  the  papers,  unless  it  were  owing  to  a  pretty  severe  illness 
I  suffered  myself  about  the  time  it  occurred.  My  good  friend, 
Mr.  Hardinge,  told  it  to  me,  for  the  first  time,  only  half  an 
hour  since." 

"  It  is  true,  sir,"  I  answered.  "  I  understand  my  kinsman 
died  eight  months  since." 

"  And  he  held  your  bond  for  forty  thousand  dollars  at 
the  time  he  died  ?" 

"  I  regret  to  say  he  did  ;  a  bond  secured  by  a  mortgage 
on  my  paternal  place,  Clawbonny,  which  has  since  been 
Bold,  by  virtue  of  the  power  contained  in  the  clauses,  under 
33 


386  MILES     WALLING  FORD. 

the  statute,  and  sold  for  a  song ;  less  than  a  fourth  of  its 
value." 

"  And  you  have  been  arrested,  at  the  suit  of  the  admin 
istrator,  for  the  balance  due  on  the  bond  ?" 

"  I  have,  sir  ;  and  am  liberated  on  general  bail,  only  with 
in  an  hour  or  two." 

"  Well,  sir,  all  these  proceedings  can  be,  and  must  be  set 
aside.  I  have  already  given  instructions  to  prepare  an  ap 
plication  to  the  chancellor  for  an  injunction,  and,  unless 
your  kinsman's  administrator  is  a  great  dunce,  you  will  be 
in  peaceable  possession  of  Clawbonny,  again,  in  less  than  a 
month — if  a  moderately  sensible  man,  in  less  than  twenty- 
four  hours." 

"  You  would  not  raise  hopes  that  are  idle,  Mr.  Harrison ; 
yet  I  do  not  understand  how  all  this  well  can  be !" 

"  Your  kinsman,  Mr.  John  Wallingford,  who  was  a  much 
esteemed  client  of  mine,  made  a  will,  which  will  I  drew  my 
self,  and  which  will  being  left  in  my  possession  for  that  pur 
pose,  I  now  put  in  your  hands  as  his  sole  executor.  By  that 
will,  you  will  perceive  that  he  especially  forgives  you  the 
debt  of  forty  thousand  dollars,  and  releases  the  claim  under 
the  mortgage.  But  this  is  not  all.  After  giving  some  small 
legacies  to  a  few  of  his  female  relatives,  he  has  left  you  the 
residuary  legatee,  and  I  know  enough  of  his  affairs  to  be 
certain  that  you  will  receive  an  addition  to  your  estate  of 
more  than  two  hundred  thousand  dollars.  John  Walling 
ford  was  a  character,  but  he  was  a  money-making  character; 
had  he  lived  twenty  years  longer,  he  would  have  been  one 
of  the  richest  men  in  the  state.  He  had  laid  an  excellent 
foundation,  but  he  died  too  soon  to  rear  the  golden  struc 
ture." 

What  a  change  of  circumstances  was  here !  I  was  not 
only  virtually  released  from  debt,  but  had  Clawbonny  re 
stored  to  me,  and  was  master  of  all  I  had  ever  owned,  my 
earnings  and  the  money  invested  in  the  Dawn  excepted. 
This  last  was  irretrievably  gone,  it  was  true,  but,  in  its  place 
I  had  the  ample  legacy  of  John  Wallingford  as  a  compen 
sation.  This  legacy  consisted  of  a  large  sum  in  the  three  per 
cents,  which  then  sold  at  about  sixty,  but  were  subsequently 
paid  off  at  par,  of  good  bank  and  insurance  stocks,  bonds 
and  mortgages,  and  a  valuable  and  productive  real  property 


MILES     WAIiLINQFORD.  387 

in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  with  several  buildings  in 
town.  In  a  word,  I  was  even  richer  than  Lucy,  and  no 
longer  need  consider  myself  as  one  living  on  her  generosity. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  believe  I  was  made  supremely  happy  by 
this  news,  and  I  looked  to  Lucy  for  sympathy.  As  for  the 
dear  girl  herself,  I  do  believe  she  felt  anything  but  pleasure, 
at  this  new  accession  of  riches ;  for  she  had  a  deep  satisfac 
tion  in  thinking  that  it  was  in  her  power  to  prove  to  me 
how  completely  I  possessed  her  confidence,  by  placing  all 
she  had  in  my  hands.  Nevertheless,  she  loved  Clawbonny 
as  well  as  I  did  myself,  and  my  restoration  to  the  throne 
of  my  fathers  was  a  subject  of  mutual  delight. 

Mr.  Harrison  went  on  to  say  that  he  had  ascertained 
Daggett  was  in  town,  to  conduct  the  expected  arrangement 
with  me,  on  the  subject  of  my  personals,  and  that  he  had 
already  sent  a  messenger  to  his  attorney,  to  let  the  existence 
of  the  will  be  known.  He  had,  consequently,  strong  hopes 
of  arranging  matters,  in  the  course  of  the  next  twenty-four 
hours.  We  were  still  at  table,  in  effect,  when  the  messen 
ger  came  to  let  us  know  an  interview  was  appointed  at  the 
office  of  this  eminent  counsel,  and  we  all  adjourned  to  that 
place,  Lucy  excepted,  as  soon  as  the  cloth  was  removed ; 
for,  in  that  day,  cloths  were  always  removed.  At  the  office, 
we  found  Mr.  Daggett,  whom  I  now  saw  for  the  first  time, 
and  his  legal  adviser,  already  waiting  for  us.  One  glance 
sufficed  to  let  us  into  the  secret  of  the  consternation  both  were 
in,  for  the  lawer  had  committed  himself  in  the  course  of  the 
proceedings  he  had  had  an  agency  in  conducting,  almost  as 
much  as  his  client. 

"  This  is  strange  news  to  us,  Mr.  Harrison,"  the  attorney 
commenced  ;  "  though  your  character  and  reputation,  I  will 
confess,  make  it  look  serious.  Is  there  no  mistake  in  the 
matter,  sir?" 

"  None  whatever,  Mr.  Meekly.  If  you  will  have  the 
goodness  to  read  this  will,  sir,  you  will  perceive  that  the 
facts  have  been  truly  laid  before  your  client ;  and,  as  to  the 
authenticity  of  the  document,  I  can  only  say,  it  was  not 
only  drawn  up  by  myself,  under  precise  instructions  from 
Mr.  Wallingford, — which  instructions  I  still  possess,  in  his 
own  hand-writing, — but  the  will  was  copied  by  my  client, 
as  w«jll  as  signed  and  sealed  in  my  presence,  as  one  of  the 


388  MILES   WALLINGFORD. 

witnesses.  So  far  as  relates  to  the  personals,  this  wiL 
would  be  valid,  though  not  signed  by  the  testator,  supposing 
no  other  will  to  exist.  But,  I  flatter  myself,  you  will  find 
everything  correct  as  to  forms." 

Mr.  Meekly  read  the  will  aloud,  from  beginning  to  end, 
and,  in  returning  it  to  me,  he  cast  a  very  give-it-up-sort  of 
look  at  Daggett.  The  latter  inquired,  with  some  anxiety, — 

"  Is  there  any  schedule  of  the  property  accompanying 
the  will  ?" 

"  There  is,  sir,"  returned  Mr.  Harrison  ;  "  and  directions 
on  it  where  to  find  the  certificates  of  stock,  and  all  the  other 
evidences  of  debts — such  as  bonds  and  mortgages.  Of  the 
last,  several  are  in  my  own  possession.  I  presume  the  bond 
of  this  Mr.  Wallingford  was  kept  by  the  testator  himself,  as 
a  sort  of  family  thing." 

"  Well,  sir,  you  will  find  that  none  of  the  stock  has  been 
touched ;  and  I  confess  this  bond,  with  a  few  notes  given  in 
Genessee,  is  all  that  I  have  been  able  to  find.  We  have 
been  surprised  at  discovering  the  assets  to  be  so  small." 

"  So  much  the  better  for  you,  Mr.  Daggett.  Knowing 
what  I  do,  I  shall  only  give  up  the  assets  I  hold  to  the  exe 
cutor  and  heir.  Your  letters  of  administration  will  be  set 
aside,  as  a  matter  of  course,  even  should  you  presume  to 
oppose  us, — which  I  should  hardly  think  advisable." 

"  We  shall  not  attempt  it,  Mr.  Harrison,"  Meekly  said, 
hastily  ;  "  and  we  expect  equal  liberality  from  your  client." 

So  much  for  having  a  first-rate  lawyer  and  a  man  of 
character  on  my  side.  Daggett  gave  the  whole  thing  up, 
on  the  spot, — re-conveying  to  me  Clawbonny  before  he 
quitted,  though  the  sale  would  unquestionably  be  set  aside, 
and  subsequently  was  set  aside,  by  means  of  an  amicable 
suit.  A  great  deal  remained  to  be  done,  however ;  and  I 
was  obliged  to  tear  myself  away  from  Lucy,  in  order  to  do 
it.  Probate  of  the  will  was  to  be  made  in  the  distant  county 
of  Genessee — and  distant  it  was  from  New  York,  in  1804! 
The  journey  that  could  be  made,  to-day,  in  about  thirty 
hours,  took  me  ten  days  :  and  I  spent  near  a  month  in  going 
through  the  necessary  forms,  and  in  otherwise  settling  my 
affairs  at  the  west,  as  that  part  of  the  State  was  then  called. 
The  time,  however,  was  not  wasted  below.  Mr.  Hardinge 
took  charge  of  everything  at  Clawbonny,  and  Lucy's 


MILES     WAXLINGFORD.  389 

•welcome  letters, — three  of  which  reached  me  weekly,— 
informed  me  that  everything  was  re-established  in  the  house, 
on  the  farm,  and  at  the  mill.  The  Wallingford  was  set 
running  again,  and  all  the  oxen,  cows,  horses,  hogs,  &c., 
dec.,  were  living  in  their  old  haunts.  The  negroes  were 
reinstated,  and  Clawbonny  was  itself  again!  The  only 
changes  made  were  for  the  better ;  the  occasion  having  been 
improved,  to  paint  and  new-vamp  the  house,  which  Mr. 
Daggett's  parsimony  had  prevented  him  from  defacing  by 
modern  alterations.  In  a  word,  '  Masser  Mile*  was  alone 
wanting  to  make  all  at  the  farm  happy.  Chloe  had  com 
municated  her  engagement  to  '  Miss  Lucy,'  and  it  was 
understood  Neb  and  his  master  were  to  be  married  about  the 
same  time.  As  for  Moses,  he  had  gone  up  to  Willow  Cove, 
on  a  leave  of  absence.  A  letter  received  from  him,  which 
now  lies  before  me,  will  give  a  better  account  of  his  proceed 
ings  and  feelings  than  I  can  write  myself.  It  was  in  the 
following  words,  viz. : 

"Willow  Cove,  Sept.  18th,  1804. 
"  CAPTAIN  WALLINGFORD  : 

"  Dear  Sir,  and  my  dear  Miles — Here  I  have  been,  moored 
head  and  starn,  these  ten  days,  as  comfortable  as  heart  could 
wish,  in  the  bosom  of  my  family.  The  old  woman  was 
right  down  glad  to  see  me,  and  she  cried  like  an  alligator, 
when  she  heard  my  story.  As  for  Kitty,  she  cried,  and  she 
laughed  in  the  bargain ;  but  that  young  Bright,  whom  you 
may  remember  we  fell  in  with,  in  our  cruise  after  old  Van 
Tassel,  has  fairly  hauled  alongside  of  my  niece,  and  she 
does  little  but  laugh  from  morning  to  night.  It 's  bloody 
hard  to  lose  a  niece  in  this  way,  just  as  a  man  finds  her, 
but  mother  says  I  shall  gain  a  nephew  by  the  trade. 

"  Now,  for  old  Van  Tassel.  The  Lord  will  never  suffer 
rogues  to  prosper  in  the  long  run.  Mother  found  the  old 
rascal's  receipt,  given  to  my  father  for  the  money,  years  and 
years  ago,  and  sending  for  a  Hudson  lawyer,  they  made  the 
miserly  cheat  off  with  his  hatches,  and  hoist  out  cargo 
enough  to  square  the  yards.  So  mother  considers  the  thing 
as  settled  at  last ;  but  I  shall  always  regard  the  account  as 
open  until  I  have  threshed  the  gentleman  to  my  heart's  con 
tent.  The  old  woman  got  the  cash  in  hard  dollars,  not  un 
derstanding  paper,  and  I  wasn't  in  the  house  ten  minutes, 
33* 


390  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

before  the  good  old  soul  roused  a  stocking  out  of  a  drawer, 
and  began  to  count  out  the  pieces  to  pay  me  off.  So  you 
see,  Miles,  I  've  stepped  into  my  estate  again,  as  well  as 
yourself.  As  for  your  offer  to  pay  me  wages  for  the  whole 
of  last  v'y'ge" — this  word  Marble  could  only  spell  as  he 
pronounced  it — "  it 's  generous,  and  that 's  a  good  deal  in 
these  bloody  dishonest  times,  but  I  '11  not  touch  a  copper. 
When  a  ship  's  lost,  the  wages  are  lost  with  her,  and  that 's 
law  and  reason.  It  would  be  hard  on  a  marchant  to  have 
to  pay  wages  for  work  done  on  board  a  craft  that 's  at  the 
bottom  of  the  ocean ;  so  no  more  on  that  p'int,  which  we  '11 
consider  settled. 

"  I  am  delighted  to  learn  you  are  to  be  married  as  soon 
as  you  get  back  to  Clawbonny.  Was  I  in  your  place,  and 
saw  such  a  nice  young  woman  beckoning  me  into  port,  I  'd 
not  be  long  in  the  offing.  Thank  you,  heartily,  for  the  in 
vitation  to  be  one  of  the  bride's-maids,  which  is  an  office,  my 
dear  Miles,  I  covet,  and  shall  glory  in.  I  wish  you  to  drop 
me  a  line  as  to  the  rigging  proper  for  the  occasion,  for  I 
would  wish  to  be  dressed  as  much  like  the  rest  of  the  bride's- 
maids  as  possible;  uniformity  being  always  desirable  in 
such  matters.  A  wedding  is  a  wedding,  and  should  be  dealt 
with  as  a  wedding ;  so,  waiting  for  further  orders,  I  remain 
your  friend  and  old  ship-mate  to  command, 

"  MOSES  VAN  DUSEN  MARBLE." 

I  do  not  affirm  that  the  spelling  of  this  letter  was  quite  as 
accurate  as  that  given  in  this  copy,  but  the  epistle  was  legi 
ble,  and  evidently  gave  Marble  a  great  deal  of  trouble.  As 
for  the  letters  of  dear  Lucy,  I  forbear  to  copy  any.  They 
were  like  herself,  however;  ingenuous,  truthful,  affectionate 
and  feminine.  Among  other  things,  she  informed  me  that 
our  union  was  to  take  place  in  St.  Michael's ;  that  I  was  to 
meet  her  at  the  rectory,  and  that  we  might  proceed  to  Claw- 
bonny  from  the  church-door.  She  had  invited  Rupert  and 
Emily  to  be  present,  but  the  health  of  the  last  would  pre 
vent  their  accepting  the  invitation.  Major,  or  general,  Mer- 
ton,  as  he  was  universally  called  in  New  York,  had  the 
gout,  and  could  not  be  there ;  and  I  was  asked  if  it  would 
not  be  advisable,  under  all  the  circumstances,  to  have  the 
affair  as  private  as  possible.  My  answer  conveyed  a  cheer- 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  391 

ful  compliance,  and  a  week  after  that  was  despatched,  I  left 
the  Genessee  country,  haviiag  successfully  completed  all 
my  business.  No  one  opposed  me,  and  so  far  from  being 
regarded  as  an  intruder,  the  world  thought  me  the  proper 
heir  of  my  cousin. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

M I  calmed  her  fears,  and  she  was  calm. 
And  told  bear  ilovc  with  virgin  pride ; 
And  so  I  woa  Hay  Genevieve, 
My  bright  and  beauteous  bride." 

COLERIDGK. 

BY  arrangement,  I  stopped  at  the  Willow  Cove,  to  pick 
up  Marble.  I  found  the  honest  fellow  happy  as  the  day  was 
long ;  but  telling  fearfully  long  and  wonderful  yarns  of  his 
adventures,  to  the  whole  country  round.  My  old  mate  was 
substantially  a  man  of  truth ;  but  he  did  love  to  astonish 
**  know-nothings."  He  appears  to  have  succeeded  surpris 
ingly  well,  for  the  Dutchmen  of  that  neighbourhood  still 
recount  anecdotes  of  tfee  achievements  and  sufferings  of 
Captain  Marvel,  as  they  usually  call  him,  though  they  hava 
long  ceased  to  think  the  country  belongs  to  the  United  Pro 
vinces. 

Moses  was  glad  to  see  me ;  and,  after  passing  a  night  in 
the  cottage  of  his  mother,  we  proceeded  towards  Clawbonny, 
in  a  conveyance  that  had  been  sent  to  Willow  Cove  to  meet 
me.  It  was  a  carriage  of  my  own,  one  of  my  own  negroes 
acting  as  driver.  I  knew  the  old  team,  and  will  acknow 
ledge  that  tears  forced  themselves  to  my  eyes  as  I  thus  saw 
myself,  as  it  might  be,  reinstated  in  my  own.  The  same 
feeling  cause  powerfully  over  rne,  as  we  drove  to  the  summit 
of  an  elevation  in  the  road,  that  commanded  a  view  of  the 
vale  and  buildings  of  Clawbonny.  What  a  moment  was 
that  in  my  existence  1  I  cannot  say  that  I  was  born  to 
wealth,  even  as  wealth  was  counted  among  us  sixty  years 
since,  bat  I  vas  born  to  a  competency.  Until  I  lost  my 


392  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

ship,  I  had  never  known  the  humiliating  sensations  of 
poverty ;  and  the  feeling  that  passed  over  my  heart,  when 
I  first  heard  that  Clawbonny  was  sold,  has  left  an  impression 
that  will  last  for  life.  I  looked  at  the  houses,  as  I  passed 
them  in  the  streets,  and  remembered  that  I  was  houseless. 
I  did  not  pass  a  shop  in  which  clothes  were  exposed,  with 
out  remembering  that,  were  my  debts  paid,  I  should  literally 
be  without  a  coat  to  my  back.  Now,  I  had  my  own  once 
more ;  and  there  stood  the  home  of  my  ancestors  for  gene 
rations,  looking  comfortable  and  respectable,  in  the  midst 
of  a  most  inviting  scene  of  rural  quiet  and  loveliness.  The 
very  fields  seemed  to  welcome  me  beneath  its  roof!  There 
is  no  use  in  attempting  to  conceal  what  happened ;  and  1 
will  honestly  relate  it. 

The  road  made  a  considerable  circuit  to  descend  the  hill, 
while  a  foot-path  led  down  the  declivity,  by  a  shorter  cut, 
which  was  always  taken  by  pedestrians.  Making  an  inco 
herent  excuse  to  Moses,  and  telling  him  to  wait  for  me  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill,  I  sprang  out  of  the  carriage,  leaped  a 
fence,  and  I  may  add,  leaped  out  of  sight,  in  order  to  con 
ceal  my  emotion.  I  was  no  sooner  lost  to  view,  than, 
seating  myself  on  a  fragment  of  rock,  I  wept  like  a  child. 
How  long  I  sat  there  is  more  than  I  can  say ;  but  the  man 
ner  in  which  I  was  recalled  from  this  paroxysm  of  feeling 
will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  A  little  hand  was  laid  on  my 
forehead,  and  a  soft  voice  uttered  the  word  "  Miles !"  so 
near  me,  that,  at  the  next  instant,  I  held  Lucy  in  my  arms. 
The  dear  girl  had  walked  to  the  hill,  as  she  afterwards  ad 
mitted,  in  the  expectation  of  seeing  me  pass  on  to  Clawbonny  ; 
and,  comprehending  my  feelings  and  my  behaviour,  could 
not  deny  herself  the  exquisite  gratification  of  sharing  in  my 
emotions. 

"  It  is  a  blessed  restoration  to  your  rights,  dear  Miles," 
Lucy  at  length  said,  smiling  through  her  tears.  "  Your 
letters  have  told  me  that  you  are  rich ;  but  I  would  rather 
you  had  Clawbonny,  and  not  a  cent  besides,  than,  without 
this  place,  you  had  the  riches  of  the  wealthiest  man  in  the 
country.  Yours  it  should  have  been,  at  all  events,  could  my 
means  have  compassed  it." 

"  And  this,  Lucrr  without  my  becoming  your  husband, 
do  you  mean  t" 


MILES    WALLINGFORD.  393 

Lucy  blushed  brightly ;  though  I  cannot  say  the  sincere, 
ingenuous  girl  ever  looked  embarrassed  in  avowing  her  pre 
ference  for  me.  After  a  moment's  pause,  she  smiled,  and 
answered  my  question. 

"  I  have  not  doubted  of  the  result,  since  my  father  gave 
me  an  account  of  your  feelings  towards  me,"  she  said, 
"  and  that,  you  will  remember,  was  before  Mr.  Daggett  had 
his  sale.  Women  have  more  confidence  in  the  affections 
than  men,  I  fear ;  at  least,  with  us  they  are  more  engrossing 
concerns  than  with  you — for  we  live  for  them  altogether, 
whereas  you  have  the  world  constantly  to  occupy  your 
thoughts.  I  have  never  supposed  Miles  Wallingford  would 
become  the  husband  of  any  but  Lucy  Hardinge,  except  on 
one  occasion,  and  then  only  for  a  very  short  period ;  and, 
ever  since  I  have  thought  on  such  subjects  at  all,  I  have 
known  that  Lucy  Hardinge  would  never — could  never  be 
the  wife  of  any  one  but  Miles  Wallingford." 

"  And  that  one  exception,  dearest, — that  *  very  short  pe 
riod  ?'  Having  confessed  so  much,  I  am  eager  to  know  all." 

Lucy  became  thoughtful,  and  she  moved  the  grass  at  her 
feet  with  the  end  of  her  parasol,  ere  she  replied. 

"  The  one  exception  was  Emily  Merton ;  and  the  short 
period  terminated  when  I  saw  you  together,  in  your  own 
house.  When  I  first  saw  Emily  Merton,  I  thought  her 
more  worthy  of  your  love  than  I  could  possibly  be ;  and  I 
fancied  it  impossible  that  you  could  have  lived  so  long  in  a 
ship  together,  without  discovering  each  other's  merits.  But, 
when  I  was  placed  with  you  both,  under  the  same  roof,  I 
soon  ascertained  that,  while  your  imagination  had  been  a 
little  led  aside,  your  heart  was  always  true  to  me." 

"  Is  this  possible,  Lucy !  Are  women  really  so  much 
more  discriminating,  so  much  more  accurate  in  their 
opinions,  than  us  men.  While  I  was  ready  to  hang  myself 
for  jealousy  of  Andrew  Drewett,  did  you  really  know  that 
my  heart  was  entirely  yours?" 

"  I  was  not  without  misgivings,  Miles,  and  sometimes 
those  that  were  keenly  painful :  but,  on  the  whole,  I  will 
not  say  I  felt  my  power,  but  that  I  felt  we  were  dear  to  each 
other." 

"  Did  you  never  suppose,  as  your  excellent  father  has 
done,  that  we  were  too  much  like  brother  and  sister,  to 


394  MILES     WALLINOPORD. 

become  lovers — too  much  accustomed  to  be  dear  to  each 
other  as  children,  to  submit  to  passion  1  For  that  which  I 
feel  for  you,  Lucy,  I  do  not  pretend  to  dignify  with  the 
name  of  esteem,  and  respect,  and  affection— it  is  a  passion, 
that  will  form  the  misery,  or  happiness  of  my  life." 

Lucy  smiled  archly,  and  again  the  end  of  her  parasol 
played  with  the  grass  that  grew  around  the  rock  on  which 
we  were  seated. 

"  How  could  I  think  this  for  you,"  she  said,  "  when  I  had 
a  contrary  experience  of  my  own  constantly  present,  Miles  ? 
I  saw  that  you  thought  there  was  some  difference  of  con- 
dition  between  us,  (silly  fellow !)  and  I  felt  persuaded  you 
had  only  your  own  diffidence  to  overcome,  to  tell  your  own 
story." " 

"  And  knowing  and  seeing  all  this,  cruel  Lucy,  why  did 
you  suffer  years  of  cruel,  cruel  doubt  to  hang  over  me  ?" 

"  Was  it  a  woman's  part  to  speak,  Miles  ?  I  endeavoured 
to  act  naturally, — believe  I  did  act  naturally, — and  I  left 
the  rest  to  God.  Blessed  be  his  mercy,  I  am  rewarded !" 

I  folded  Lucy  to  my  heart,  and,  passing  a  moment  of 
sweet  sympathy  in  the  embrace,  we  both  began  to  talk  of 
other  things,  as  if  mutually  conscious  that  our  feelings  were 
too  high-wrought  for  the  place  in  which  we  were.  I  inquired 
as  to  the  condition  of  things  at  Clawbonny,  and  was  grati 
fied  with  the  report.  Everybody  expected  me.  I  had  no 
tenantry  to  come  forth  to  meet  me, — nor  were  American 
tenants  much  addicted  to  such  practices,  even  when  they 
were  to  be  found :  though  the  miserable  sophistry  on  the 
subject  of  landlord  and  tenant, — one  of  the  most  useful  and 
humanizing  relations  of  civilized  life, — did  not  then  exist 
among  us,  that  I  am  sorry  to  find  is  now  getting  into  vogue. 
In  that  day,  it  was  not  thought  *  liberty'  to  violate  the  fair 
covenants  of  a  lease ;  and  attempts  to  cheat  a  landed  pro 
prietor  out  of  his  rights  were  called  cheating,  as  they  ought 
to  be — and  they  were  called  nothing  else. 

In  that  day,  a  lease  in  perpetuity  was  thought  a  more  ad 
vantageous  bargain  for  the  tenant,  than  a  lease  for  a  year, 
or  a  term  of  years ;  and  men  did  not  begin  to  reason  as  if 
one  indulgence  gave  birth  to  a  right  to  demand  more.  In 
that  day,  paying  rent  in  chickens,  and  wood,  and  work,  was 
not  fancied  to  be  a  remnant  of  feudality,  but  it  was  regard- 


MILES     WALLINGFORO  395 

ed  as  a  favour  conferred  on  him  who  had  the  privilege :  and 
even  now,  nine  countrymen  in  ten  endeavour  to  pay  their 
debts  in  everything  they  can,  before  they  resort  to  the 
purse.  la  tfaat  day,  the  audacious  sophism  of  calling  land 
a  monopoly,  ia  a  country  that  probably  possesses  more  than 
a  hundred  acres  for  every  living  soul  within  its  limits,  was 
not  broached :  and,  in  that  day,  knots  of  men  did  not  set 
themselves  up  as  special  representatives  of  the  whole  com 
munity,  and  interpret  the  laws  in  their  own  favour,  as  if 
they  were  the  first  principles  of  the  entire  republic.  But 
my  pen  is  running  away  with  me,  and  I  must  return  to 
Lucy,  A  crisis  is  at  hand  ,*  and  we  «re  about  to  see  the 
laws  triumphant,  or  acts  of  aggression  that  will  far  outdo 
all  that  has  hitherto  rested  on  the  American  name,  as  con 
nected  with  a  want  of  faith  in  pecuniary  transactions. 

Should  I  ever  continue  these  adventures,  occasions  may 
offer  to  draw  certain  pictures  of  the  signs  of  the  times; 
signs  that  have  an  ominous  aspect  as  regards  real  liberty, 
by  substituting  the  most  fearful  of  all  tyrannies,  the  spuri 
ous,  in  its  place.  God  alone  knows  for  what  we  are  re 
served  ;  but  one  thing  is  certain — there  must  be  a  serious 
movement  backward,  or  the  nation  is  lost. 

I  had  no  tenantry  to  come  out  and  meet  me ;  but  there 
were  the  blacks.  It  is  true,  the  law  was  on  the  point  of 
liberating  these  slaves,  leaving  a  few  of  the  younger  to  serve 
for  a  term  of  years,  that  should  requite  their  owners  for  the 
care  of  their  infancies  and  their  educations ;  but  this  law 
could  not  efiect  an  immediate  change  in  the  condition  of  the 
Clawbonnys.  The  old  ones  did  not  wish  to  quit  me,  and 
never  did ;  while  it  took  years  to  loosen  the  tie  which  bound 
the  younger  portion  of  them  to  me  and  mine.  At  this  hour, 
near  twenty  of  them  are  living  round  me,  in  cottages  of 
mine ;  and  the  service  of  my  kitchen  is  entirely  conducted 
by  them.  Lucy  prepared  me  for  a  reception  by  these  chil 
dren  of  Africa,  even  the  outcasts  having  united  with  the 
rest  to 'do  honour  to  their  young  master.  Honour  is  not 
the  word ;  there  was  too  much  heart  in  the  affair  for  so 
cold  a  term ;  the  negro,  whatever  may  be  his  faults,  almost 
always  possessing  an  affectionate  heart. 

At  length,  I  remembered  Marble,  and,  taking  leave  of 
Lucy,  who  would  not  let  me  accompany  her  home,  I  threw 


. 

396  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

myself  down  the  path,  and  found  my  mate  cogitating  in  the 
carnage,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill. 

"  Well,  Miles,  you  seem  to  value  this  land  of  yours,  as  a 
seaman  does  his  ship,"  cried  Moses,  before  I  had  time  to 
apologize  for  having  kept  him  so  long  waiting.  "  Howsom- 
ever,  I  can  enter  into  the  feelin',  and  a  blessed  one  it  is,  to 
get  a  respondentia  bond  off  of  land  that  belonged  to  a  feller's 
grandfather.  Next  thing  to  being  a  bloody  hermit,  I  hold, 
is  to  belong  to  nobody  in  a  crowded  world ;  and  I  would 
not  part  with  one  kiss  from  little  Kitty,  or  one  wrinkle  of 
my  mother's,  for  all  the  desert  islands  in  the  ocean.  Come, 
sit  down  now,  my  lad — why,  you  look  as  red  as  a  rose-bud, 
and  as  if  you  had  been  running  up  and  down  hill  the  whole 
time  you  've  been  absent." 

"  It  is  sharp  work  to  come  down  such  a  hill  as  this  on  a 
trot.  Well,  here  I  am  at  your  side  f  what  would  you  wish 
to  know  1" 

"  Why,  lad,  I  've  been  thinkin',  since  you  were  away,  of 
the  duties  of  a  bride's-maid," — to  his  dying  day,  Moses  al 
ways  insisted  he  had  acted  in  this  capacity  at  my  wedding ; 
— "  for  the  time  draws  near,  and  I  wouldn't  wish  to  discredit 
you,  on  such  a  festivity.  In  the  first  place,  how  am  I  to  be 
dressed  1  I  've  got  the  posy  you  mentioned  in  your  letter, 
stowed  away  safe  in  my  trunk.  Kitty  made  it  for  me  last 
week,  and  a  good-looking  posy  it  was,  the  last  time  I  saw 
it." 

"  Did  you  think  of  the  breeches  ?" 

"  Ay,  ay — I  have  them,  too,  and  what  is  more  I  Ve  had 
them  bent.  Somehow  or  other,  Miles,  running  under  bare 
poles  does  not  seem  to  agree  with  my  build.  If  there 's 
time,  I  should  like  to  have  a  couple  of  bonnets  fitted  to  the 
articles." 

"  Those  would  be  gaiters,  Moses,  and  I  never  heard  of 
a  bride's-maid  in  breeches  and  gaiters.  No,  you  '11  be  oblig 
ed  to  come  out  like  everybody  else." 

"  Well,  I  care  less  for  the  dress  than  I  do  for  the  beha 
viour.  Shall  I  be  obliged  to  kiss  Miss  Lucy  ?" 

"  No,  not  exactly  Miss  Lucy,  but  Mrs.  Bride- — I  believe 
it  would  not  be  a  lawful  marriage  without  that." 

"  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  lay  a  straw  in  the  way  of 
your  happiness,  my  dear  boy  ;  but  you  '11  make  a  signal  for 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  397 

the  proper  time  to  clear  ship,  then — you  know  I  always 
carry  a  quid." 

I  promised  not  to  desert  him  in  his  need,  and  Moses  be 
came  materially  easier  in  his  mind.  I  do  not  wish  the  reader 
to  suppose  my  mate  fancied  he  was  to  act  in  the  character 
of  a  woman  at  my  nuptials,  but  simply  that  he  was  to  act 
in  the  character  of  a  bride's-maid.  The  difficulties  which  be 
set  him  will  be  best  explained  by  his  last  remark  on  this 
occasion,  and  with  which  I  shall  close  this  discourse.  "  Had 
I  been  brought  up  in  a  decent  family,"  he  said,  "  instead  of 
having  been  set  afloat  on  a  tomb-stone,  matrimony  wouldn't 
have  been  such  unknown  seas  to  me.  But,  you  know  how 
it  is,  Miles,  with  a  fellow  that  has  no  relations.  He  may 
laugh,  and  sing,  and  make  as  much  noise  as  he  pleases,  and 
try  to  make  others  think  he 's  in  good  company  the  whole 
time;  but,  after  all,  he's  nothing  but  a  sort  of  bloody  her 
mit,  that's  travelling  through  life,  all  the  same  as  if  he  was 
left  with  a  few  pigs  on  a  desert  island.  Make-believe  is 
much  made  use  of  in  this  world,  but  it  won't  hold  out  to  the 
last.  Now  of  all  mortal  beings  that  I  ever  met  with,  you  've 
fallen  in  with  her  that  has  least  of  it.  There 's  some  make- 
believe  about  you,  Miles,  as  when  you  looked  so  bloody  un 
concerned  all  the  time  you  were  ready  to  die  of  love,  as  I 
now  1'arn,  for  the  young  woman  you  're  about  to  marry : 
and  mother  has  a  little  of  it,  dear  old  soul,  when  she  says 
she 's  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  son  the  Lord  has  given 
her,  for  I  'm  not  so  blasted  virtuous  but  I  might  be  better ; 
and  little  Kitty  has  lots  of  it  when  she  pretends  she  would 
as  soon  have  one  kiss  from  me  as  two  from  young  Bright ; 
but,  as  for  Lucy  Hardinge,  I  will  say  that  I  never  saw  any 
more  make-believe  about  her,  than  was  becoming  in  a  young 
woman." 

This  speech  proved  that  Moses  was  a  man  of  observation. 
Others  might  have  drawn  seemingly  nicer  shades  of  char 
acter,  but  this  sincerity  of  feeling,  truth  of  conduct,  and 
singleness  of  purpose,  formed  the  distinguishing  traits  of 
Lucy's  virtues.  I  was  excessively  gratified  at  finding  that 
Marble  rightly  appreciated  one  who  was  so  very,  very  dear 
to  me,  and  took  care  to  let  him  know  as  much,  as  soon  as 
he  had  made  his  speech.  • 

We  were  met  by  the  negroes,  at  the  distance  of  half  a 
34 


398  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

mile  from  the  house.  Neb  acted  as  master  of  the  ceremo 
nies,  or,  commodore  would  be  the  better  word,  for  he  actu 
ally  carried  a  bit  of  swallow-tail  bunting  that  was  borrowed 
from  the  sloop,  and  there  was  just  as  much  of  ocean  in  the 
symbols  used,  as  comported  with  the  honours  manifested  to 
a  seaman.  Old  Cupid  carried  the  Wallingford's  ensign, 
and  a  sort  of  harlequinade  had  been  made  out  of  marlin- 
spikes,  serving  mallets,  sail-maker's  palms,  and  fids.  The 
whole  was  crowned  with  a  plug  of  tobacco,  though  I  never 
used  the  weed,  except  in  segars.  Neb  had  seen  processions 
in  town,  as  well  as  in  foreign  countries,  and  he  took  care 
that  the  present  should  do  himself  no  discredit.  It  is  true, 
that  he  spoke  to  me  of  it  afterwards  as  a  "  nigger  proces 
sion,"  and  affected  to  hold  it  cheap ;  but  I  could  see  that  the 
fellow  was  as  much  pleased  with  the  conceits  he  had  got  up 
for  the  occasion,  as  he  was  mortified  at  the  failure  of  the 
whole  thing.  The  failure  happened  in  this  wise:  no  sooner 
did  I  approach  near  enough  to  the  elder  blacks  to  have  my 
features  fairly  recognised,  than  the  women  began  to  blubber, 
and  the  men  to  toss  their  arms  and  shout  "  Masser  Mile," 
"  Masser  Mile ;"  thereby  throwing  everything  into  confusion, 
at  once  placing  feeling  uppermost,  at  the  expense  of  *  law 
and  order.' 

To  descend  from  the  stilts  that  seemed  indispensable  to 
do  credit  to  Neb's  imagination,  the  manner  in  which  I  was 
received  by  these  simple-minded  beings  was  infinitely  touch 
ing.  All  the  old  ones  shook  hands  with  me,  while  the 
younger  of  both  sexes  kept  more  aloof,  until  I  went  to  each 
in  succession,  and  went  through  the  ceremony  of  my  own 
accord.  As  for  the  boys,  they  rolled  over  on  the  grass, 
while  the  little  girls  kept  making  curtsies,  and  repeating 
"  welcome  home  to  Clawbonny,  Masser  Mile."  My  heart 
was  full,  and  I  question  if  any  European  landlord  ever  got 
so  warm  a  reception  from  his  tenantry,  as  I  received  from 
my  slaves. 

And  welcome  I  was  indeed  to  Clawbonny,  and  most  wel 
come  was  Clawbonny  to  me  !  In  1804,  New  York  had  still 
some  New  York  feeling  left  in  the  State.  Strangers  had 
not  completely  overrun  her  as  has  since  happened ;  and 
New  ¥ork  names  were  honoured ;  New  York  feelings  had 
some  place  among  us ;  life,  homes,  firesides,  and  the  graves 
of  our  fathers,  not  yet  being  treated  as  so  many  incidents  in 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  399 

some  new  speculation.  Men  then  loved  the  paternal  roof, 
and  gardens,  lawns,  orchards  and  church-yards,  were  re 
garded  as  something  other  than  levels  for  rail-roads  and 
canals,  streets  for  villages,  or  public  promenades  to  be  called 
batteries,  or  parks,  as  might  happen  to  suit  aldermanic  am 
bition,  or  editorial  privilege. 

Mr.  Hard  in  ge  met  me  at  the  gate  of  the  little  lawn,  took 
me  in  his  arms,  and  blessed  me  aloud.  We  entered  the 
house  in  silence,  when  the  good  old  man  immediately  set 
about  showing  me,  by  ocular  proof,  that  everything  was 
restored  as  effectually  as  I  was  restored  myself.  Venus 
accompanied  us,  relating  how  dirty  she  had  found  this 
room,  how  much  injured  that,  and  otherwise  abusing  the 
Daggetts,  to  my  heart's  content.  Their  reign  had  been 
short,  however ;  and  a  Wallingford  was  once  more  master 
of  the  five  structures  of  Clawbonny.  I  meditated  a  sixth, 
even  that  day,  religiously  preserving  every  stone  that  had 
been  already  laid,  however,  in  my  mind's  intention. 

The  next  day  was  that  named  by  Lucy  as  the  one  in 
which  she  would  unite  herself  to  me  for  ever.  No  secret 
was  made  of  the  affair ;  but  notice  had  been  duly  given  that 
all  at  Clawbonny  might  be  present.  I  left  home  at  ten  in 
the  morning,  in  a  very  handsome  carriage  that  had  been 
built  for  the  occasion,  accompanied  by  Moses  attired  as  a 
bride's-maid.  It  is  true  his  dumpy,  square-built  frame, 
rather  caricatured  the  shorts  and  silk  stockings ;  and,  as  we 
sat  side  by  side  in  this  guise,  I  saw  his  eye  roaming  from 
his  own  limbs  to  mine.  The  peculiarity  of  Moses's  toilette 
was  that  which  all  may  observe  in  men  of  his  stamp,  who 
come  out  in  full  dress.  The  clothes  a  good  deal  more  than 
fit  them.  Everything  is  as  tight  as  the  skin ;  and  the  wearer 
is  ordinarily  about  as  awkward  in  his  movements  and  sen 
sations,  as  if  he  had  gone  into  society,  in  puris  naturalibus. 
That  Moses  felt  the  embarrassment  of  this  novel  attire,  was 
sufficiently  apparent  by  his  looks  and  movements,  to  say 
nothing  of  his  speech. 

"  Miles,  I  do  suppose,"  he  remarked,  as  we  trotted  along, 
"  that  them  that  haven't  had  the  advantage  of  being  brought 
up  at  home  never  get  a  fair  growth.  Now,  here  's  these 
legs  of  mine  ;  there 's  plenty  of  them,  but  they  ought  to  have 
been  put  in  a  stretcher  when  I  was  a  youngster,  instead  of 


400  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

being  left  to  run  about  a  hospital.  Well,  I  '11  sail  under  ba  e 
poles,  this  once,  to  oblige  you,  bride-maid  fashion ;  but  this 
is  the  first  and  last  time  I  do  such  a  thing.  Don't  forget  to 
make  the  signal  when  I  >m  to  kiss  Miss  Lucy." 

My  thoughts  were  not  exactly  in  the  vein  to  enjoy  the 
embarrassment  of  Moses,  and  I  silenced  him  by  promising 
all  he  asked.  We  were  not  elegant  enough  to  meet  at  the 
church,  but  I  proceeded  at  once  to  the  little  rectory,  where 
I  found  the  good  divine  and  my  lovely  bride  had  just  com 
pleted  their  arrangements.  And  lovely,  indeed,  was  Lucy, 
in  her  simple  but  beautiful  bridal  attire !  She  was  unattend 
ed,  had  none  of  those  gay  appliances  about  her  that  her 
condition  might  have  rendered  proper,  and  which  her  for 
tune  would  so  easily  have  commanded.  Yet  it  was  impos 
sible  to  be  in  her  presence  without  feeling  the  influence  of 
her  virgin  mien  and  simple  elegance.  Her  dress  was  a 
spotless  but  exquisitely  fine  India  muslin,  well  made  and 
accurately  fitting ;  and  her  dark  glossy  hair  was  embellished 
only  by  one  comb  ornamented  with  pearls,  and  wearing  the 
usual  veil.  As  for  her  feet  and  hands,  they  were  more  like 
those  of  a  fairy  than  of  one  human  ;  while  her  countenance 
was  filled  with  all  the  heart-felt  tenderness  of  her  honest 
nature.  Around  her  ivory  throat,  and  over  her  polished 
shoulders,  hung  my  own  necklace  of  pearls,  strung  as  they 
had  been  on  board  the  Crisis,  giving  her  bust  an  air  of 
affluent  decoration,  while  it  told  a  long  story  of  distant  ad 
venture  and  of  well-requited  affection. 

We  had  no  bride's-maids,  (Marble  excepted),  no  groom's- 
men,  no  other  attendants  than  those  of  our  respective  house 
holds.  No  person  had  been  asked  to  be  present,  for  we  felt 
that  our  best  friends  were  with  us,  when  we  had  these  de 
pendants  around  us.  At  one  time,  I  had  thought  of  paying 
Drewett  the  compliment  of  desiring  him  to  be  a  groom's- 
man ;  but  Lucy  set  the  project  at  rest,  by  quaintly  asking 
me  how  I  should  like  to  have  been  his  attendant,  with  the 
same  bride.  As  for  Rupert,  I  never  inquired  how  he  satis 
fied  the  scruples  of  his  father,  though  the  old  gentleman 
made  many  apologies  to  me  for  his  absence.  I  was  heartily 
rejoiced,  indeed,  he  did  not  appear ;  and,  I  think,  Lucy  was 
so  also. 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  401 

The  moment  I  appeared  in  the  little  drawing-room  of  th* 
rectory,  which  Lucy's  money  and  taste  had  converted  into 
a  very  pretty  but  simple  room,  my  "  bright  and  beauteous 
bride"  arose,  and  extended  to  me  her  long-loved  hand.  The 
act  itself,  natural  and  usual  as  it  was,  was  performed  in  a 
way  to  denote  the  frankness  and  tenderness  of  her  character. 
Her  colour  went  and  came  a  little,  but  she  said  nothing. 
Without  resuming  her  seat,  she  quietly  placed  an  arm  in 
mine,  and  turned  to  her  father,  as  much  as  to  say  we  were 
ready.  Mr.  Hardinge  led  the  way  to  the  church,  which  was 
but  a  step  from  the  rectory,  and,  in  a  minute  or  two,  all 
stood  ranged  before  the  altar,  with  the  divine  in  the  chancel. 
The  ceremony  commenced  immediately,  and  in  less  than 
five  minutes  I  folded  Lucy  in  my  arms,  as  my  wife.  We 
had  gone  into  the  vestry-room  for  this  part  of  the  affair,  and 
there  it  was  that  we  received  the  congratulations  of  those 
humble,  dark-coloured  beings,  who  then  formed  so  material 
a  portion  of  nearly  every  American  family  of  any  means. 

"  I  wish  you  great  joy  and  ebbery  sort  of  happiness, 
Masser  Mile,"  said  old  Venus,  kissing  my  hand,  though  I 
insisted  it  should  be  my  face,  as  had  often  been  her  practice 
twenty  years  before.  "  Ah !  dis  was  a  blessed  day  to  old 
masser  and  missus,  could  dey  saw  it,  but.  And  I  won't 
speak  of  anoder  blessed  saint  dat  be  in  heaven.  And  you 
too,  my  dear  young  missus ;  now,  we  all  so  grad  it  be  you, 
for  we  did  t'ink,  a  one  time,  dat  would  nebber  come  to 


Lucy  laid  her  own  little  white  velvet-like  hand,  with  the 
wedding  ring  on  its  fourth  finger,  into  the  middle  of  Venus'a 
hard  and  horny  palm,  in  the  sweetest  manner  possible ;  re 
minding  all  around  her  that  she  was  an  old  friend,  and  that 
she  knew  all  the  good  qualities  of  every  one  who  pressed 
forward  to  greet  her,  and  to  wish  her  happiness. 

As  soon  as  this  part  of  the  ceremony  was  over,  we  re- 
paired  to  the  rectory,  where  Lucy  changed  her  wedding 
robe,  for  what  I  fancied  was  one  of  the  prettiest  demi-toilette 
dresses  I  ever  saw.  I  know  I  am  now  speaking  like  an  old 
fellow,  whose  thoughts  revert  to  the  happier  scenes  of  youth 
with  a  species  of  dotage,  but  it  is  not  often  a  man  has  an 
opportunity  of  pourtraying  such  a  bride  and  wife  as  Lucy 
Hardinge.  On  this  occasion  she  removed  the  comb  and 
34* 


402  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

veil,  as  not  harmonizing  with  the  dress  in  which  she  re-ap 
peared,  but  the  necklace  was  worn  throughout  the  whole  of 
that  blessed  day.  As  soon  as  my  bride  was  ready,  Mr. 
Hardinge,  Lucy,  Moses  and  myself,  entered  the  carriage, 
and  drove  over  to  Clawbonny.  Thither  all  Lucy's  ward 
robe  had  been  sent,  an  nour  before,  under  Chloe's  superin 
tendence,  who  had  barely  returned  to  the  church  in  time  to 
witness  the  ceremony. 

One  of  the  most  precious  moments  of  my  life,  was  that 
in  which  I  folded  Lucy  in  my  arms  and  welcomed  her  to 
the  old  place  as  its  mistress. 

"  We  came  very  near  losing  it,  love,"  I  whispered  ;  "  but 
it  is  now  ours,  unitedly,  and  we  will  be  in  no  hurry  to  turn 
our  backs  on  it." 

This  was  in  a  tete-a-tete,  in  the  family  room,  whither  I 
had  led  Lucy,  feeling  that  this  little  ceremony  was  due  to 
my  wife.  Everything  around  us  recalled  former  scenes, 
and  tears  were  in  the  eyes  of  my  bride  as  she  gently  extri 
cated  herself  from  my  arms. 

"  Let  us  sit  down  a  moment,  Miles,  and  consult  on  family 
affairs,  now  we  are  here»"  she  said,  smiling.  "  It  may  be 
early  to  begin,  but  such  old  acquaintances  have  no  need  of 
time  to  discover  each  other's  wishes  and  good  and  bad  qual 
ities.  I  agree  with  you,  heart  and  mind,  in  saying  we  will 
never  turn  our  backs  on  Clawbonny — dear,  dear  Clawbonny, 
where  we  were  children  together,  Miles  ;  where  we  knew  so 
well,  and  loved  so  well,  our  departed  Grace, — and,  I  hope 
and  trust,  it  will  ever  be  our  principal  residence.  The 
country-house  I  inherit  from  Mrs.  Bradfort  is  better  suited  to 
modern  tastes  and  habits,  perhaps,  but  it  can  never  be  one 
half  so  dear  to  either  of  us.  I  would  not  speak  to  you  on 
this  subject  before,  Miles,  because  I  wished  first  to  give  you 
a  husband's  just  control  over  me  and  mine,  in  giving  you 
my  hand ;  but,  now,  I  may  and  will  suggest  what  has  been 
passing  in  my  mind  on  this  subject.  Riversedge" — so  was 
Mrs.  Bradfort's  country-house  called — "  is  a  good  residence, 
and  is  sufficiently  well  furnished  for  any  respectable  family. 
Rupert  and  Emily  must  live  somewhere,  and  I  feel  certain 
it  cannot  long  be  in  Broadway.  Now,  I  have  thought  I 
would  reserve  Riversedge  for  their  future  use.  They  can 
take  it  immediately,  as  a  summer  residence ;  for  I  prize 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  403 


one  hour  passed  here  more  than  twenty-four  hours 
there." 

"  What,  rebel ! — Even  should  I  choose  to  dwell  in  your 
West-Chester  house?" 

"  You  will  be  here,  Miles ;  and  it  is  on  your  account  that 
Clawbonny  is  so  dear  to  me.  The  place  is  yours, — I  am 
yours, — and  all  your  possessions  should  go  together." 

"  Thank  you,  dearest.  But  will  Rupert  be  able  to  keep 
up  a  town  and  country  house '!" 

"  The  first,  not  long,  for  a  certainty  ;  how  long,  you  know 
better  than  I.  When  I  have  been  your  wife  half-a-dozen 
years,  perhaps  you  will  think  me  worthy  of  knowing  the 
secret  of  the  money  he  actually  has." 

This  was  said  pleasantly ;  but  it  was  not  said  without 
anxiety.  I  reflected  on  the  conditions  of  my  secresy. 
Grace  wished  to  keep  the  facts  from  Lucy,  lest  the  noble- 
hearted  sister  should  awaken  a  feeling  in  the  brother  that 
might  prevent  her  bequest  from  being  carried  into  effect. 
Then,  she  did  not  think  Lucy  would  ever  become  my  wife, 
and  circumstances  were  changed,  while  there  was  no  longer 
a  reason  for  concealing  the  truth  from  the  present  applicant, 
at  least.  I  communicated  all  that  had  passed  on  the  subject 
to  my  deeply-interested  listener.  Lucy  received  the  facts 
with  sorrow,  though  they  were  no  more  than  she  had  ex 
pected  to  learn. 

"  I  should  be  covered  with  shame,  were  I  to  hear  this 
from  any  other  than  you,  Miles,"  she  answered,  after  a 
thoughtful  pause ;  "  but  I  know  your  nature  too  well,  not  to 
feel  certain  that  the  sacrifice  scarce  cost  you  a  thought,  and 
that  you  regretted  Rupert's  self-forgetfulness  more  than  the 
loss  of  the  money.  I  confess  this  revelation  has  changed 
all  my  plans  for  the  future,  so  far  as  they  were  connected 
with  my  brother." 

"  In  what  manner,  dearest  ?  Let  nothing  that  has  hap 
pened  to  me  influence  your  decisions." 

"  In  so  much  as  it  affects  my  views  of  Rupert's  character, 
it  must,  Miles.  I  had  intended  to  divide  Mrs.  Bradfort's 
fortune  equally  with  my  brother.  Had  I  married  any  man 
but  you,  I  should  have  made  this  a  condition  of  our  union ; 
but  you  I  know  so  well,  and  so  well  know  I  could  trust,  that 
I  have  found  a  deep  satisfaction  in  placing  myself,  as  it 


404  MILES    WALLINGFORD 


be,  in  your  power.  I  know  that  all  my  personal 
property  is  already  yours,  without  reserve,  and  that  I  can 
make  no  disposition  of  the  real,  even  after  I  come  of  age, 
without  your  consent.  But  I  had  that  faith  in  you,  as  to 
believe  you  would  let  me  do  as  I  pleased." 

"  Have  it  still,  love.  I  have  neither  need,  nor  wish,  to 
interfere." 

"  No,  Miles;  it  would  be  madness  to  give  property  to  one 
of  such  a  character.  If  you  approve,  I  will  make  Rupert 
and  Emily  a  moderate  quarterly  allowance,  with  which, 
having  the  use  of  my  country-place,  they  may  live  respecta 
bly.  Further  than  that,  I  should  consider  it  wrong  to  go." 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  how  much  I  approved  of 
this  decision,  or  the  applause  I  lavished  on  the  warm-hearted 
donor.  The  sum  was  fixed  at  two  thousand  dollars  a-year, 
before  we  left  the  room  ;  and  the  result  was  communicated 
to  Rupert  by  Lucy  herself,  in  a  letter  written  the  very  next 
day. 

Our  wedding-dinner  was  a  modest,  but  a  supremely  happy 
meal  ;  and  in  the  evening,  the  blacks  had  a  ball  in  a  large 
laundry,  that  stood  a  little  apart,  and  which  was  well 
enough  suited  to  such  a  scene.  Our  quiet  and  simple  fes 
tivities  endured  for  several  days  ;  the  "  uner"  of  Neb  and 
Chloe  taking  place  very  soon  after  our  own  marriage,  and 
coming  in  good  time  to  furnish  an  excuse  for  dancing  the 
week  fairly  out. 

Marble  got  into  trowsers  the  day  after  the  ceremony,  and 
then  he  entered  into  the  frolic  with  all  his  heart.  On  the 
whole,  he  was  relieved  from  being  a  bride's-maid,  —  a  suffi 
ciently  pleasant  thing,  —  but  having  got  along  so  well  with 
Lucy,  he  volunteered  to  act  in  the  same  capacity  to  Chloe. 
The  offer  was  refused,  however,  in  the  following  classical 
language  : 

"  No,  Misser  Marble  ;  colour  is  colour,"  returned  Chloe  : 
"  You  's  white,  and  we  's  black.  Mattermony  is  a  berry 
solemn  occerpashun  ;  and  there  mustn't  be  no  improper  jokes 
at  my  uner  with  Neb  Clawaonny." 


MILES    WALLINOFORD.  405 


CEAPTEK  XXX. 

**  This  disease  is  beyond  my  practice  :  yet  I  have  known  those 
which  have  walked  in  their  sleep,  who  have  died  holily  in  their  beds.* 

MACBETH. 

THE  honeymoon  was  passed  at  Clawbonny,  and  many, 
many  other  honeymoons  that  have  since  succeeded  it.  I 
never  saw  a  man  more  delighted  than  Mr.  Hardinge  was, 
at  finding  me  actually  his  son-in-law.  I  really  believed  he 
loved  me  more  than  he  did  Rupert,  though  he  lived  and  died 
in  ignorance  of  his  own  son's  true  character.  It  would 
have  been  cruel  to  undeceive  him ;  and  nothing  particular 
ever  occurred  to  bring  about  an  eclair cissement.  Rupert's 
want  of  principle  was  a  negative,  rather  than  an  active 
quality,  and  was  only  rendered  of  account  by  his  vanity 
and  selfishness.  Self-indulgence  was  all  he  aimed  at,  and 
he  was  much  too  self-indulgent  and  shrewd  to  become  an 
active  rogue.  He  would  have  spent  Lucy's  and  my  joint 
fortunes,  had  they  been  put  at  his  control ;  but,  as  they  never 
were,  he  was  fain  to  limit  his  expenditures  to  such  sums  as 
we  saw  fit  to  give  him,  with  certain  extra  allowances  extorted 
by  his  debts.  Our  intercourse  was  very  much  restricted  to 
visits  of  ceremony,  at  least  on  my  part;  though  Lucy  saw 
him  oftener ;  and  no  allusion  was  ever  made  to  the  past. 
I  called  him  "  Mr.  Hardinge,"  and  he  called  me  "  Mr.  Wal- 
lingford."  "  Rupert"  and  "  Miles"  were  done  with  for  ever, 
between  us.  I  may  as  well  dispose  of  the  history  of  this 
person  and  his  wife,  at  once ;  for  I  confess  it  gives  me  pain 
to  speak  of  them,  even  at  this  distance  of  time. 

Rupert  lived  but  four  years,  after  my  marriage  to  his 
sister.  As  soon  as  he  found  it  necessary  to  give  up  the 
Broadway  house,  he  accepted  the  use  of  Riversedge  and  his 
sister's  82000  a-year,  with  gratitude,  and  managed  to  get 
along  on  that  sum,  apparently,  down  to  the  hour  of  his 
death.  It  is  true,  that  I  paid  his  debts,  without  Lucy's 
knowledge,  twice  in  that  short  period  ;  and  I  really  think  he 
was  sensible  of  his  errors,  to  a  certain  extent,  before  his 
eyes  were  closed.  He  left  one  child,  a  daughter,  who  sur 
vived  him  only  a  few  months.  Major  Merton's  complaints 


406  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

had  carried  him  off  previously  to  this.  Between  this  old 
officer  and  myself,  there  had  ever  existed  a  species  of  cor 
diality  ;  and  I  do  believe  he  sometimes  remembered  his  va 
rious  obligations  to  me  and  Marble,  in  a  proper  temper. 
Like  most  officials  of  free  governments,  he  left  little  or  no 
thing  behind  him ;  so  that  Mrs.  Hardinge  was  totally  de 
pendent  on  her  late  husband's  friends  for  a  support,  during 
her  widowhood.  Emily  was  one  of  those  semi-worldly 
characters,  that  are  not  absolutely  wanting  in  good  quali 
ties,  while  there  is  always  more  or  less  of  a  certain  disa 
greeable  sort  of  calculation  in  all  they  do.  Rupert's  personal 
advantages  and  agreeable  manners  had  first  attracted  her ; 
and  believing  him  to  be  Mrs.  Bradfort's  heir,  she  had  gladly 
married  him.  I  think  she  lived  a  disappointed  woman,  after 
her  father's  death ;  and  I  was  not  sorry  when  she  let  us 
know  that  she  was  about  to  "  change  her  condition,"  as  it 
is  termed  in  widow's  parlance,  by  marrying  an  elderly  man, 
who  possessed  the  means  of  giving  her  all  that  money  can 
bestow.  With  this  second,  or,  according  to  Venus's  nomen 
clature,  step-husband,  she  went  to  Europe,  and  there  remain 
ed,  dying  only  three  years  ago,  an  amply  endowed  widow. 
We  kept  up  a  civil  sort  of  intercourse  with  her  to  the  last, 
actually  passing  a  few  weeks  with  her,  some  fifteen  years 
since,  in  a  house,  half-barn,  half-castle,  that  she  called  a 
palace,  on  one  of  the  unrivalled  lakes  of  Italy.  As  la  Sig- 
nora  Montiera,  (Montier)  she  was  sufficiently  respected, 
finishing  her  career  as  a  dowager  of  good  reputation,  and 
who  loved  the  "  pomps  and  vanities  of  this  wicked  world." 
I  endeavoured,  in  this  last  meeting,  to  bring  to  her  mind 
divers  incidents  of  her  early  life,  but  with  a  singular  want 
of  success.  They  had  actually  passed,  so  far  as  her  me 
mory  was  concerned,  into  the  great  gulf  of  time,  keeping 
company  with  her  sins,  and  appeared  to  be  entirely  forgot 
ten.  Nevertheless,  la  Signora  was  disposed  to  treat  me  and 
view  me  with  consideration,  as  soon  as  she  found  me  living 
in  credit,  with  money,  horses,  and  carriages  at  command, 
and  to  forget  that  I  had  been  only  a  ship-master.  She  list 
ened  smilingly,  and  with  patience,  to  what,  I  dare  say,  were 
my  prolix  narratives,  though  her  own  recollections  were  so 
singularly  impaired.  She  did  remember  something  about 
the  wheelbarrow  and  the  canal  in  Hyde  Park ;  but  as  for 


MILES     WALLING  FORD.  407 

the  voyage  across  the  Pacific,  most  of  the  incidents  had 
passed  out  of  her  mind.  To  do  her  honour,  Lucy  wore 
the  pearls,  on  an  occasion  in  which  she  gave  a  little  festa  to 
her  neighbours ;  and  I  ascertained  she  did  remember  them. 
She  even  hinted  to  one  of  her  guests,  in  my  hearing,  that 
they  had  been  intended  for  her  originally ;  but  "  we  cannot 
command  the  impulses  of  the  heart,  you  know,  car  a  mia" 
she  added,  with  a  very  self-complacent  sort  of  a  sigh. 

What  of  all  this  ?  The  ci-devant  Emily  was  no  more 
than  a  summary  of  the  feelings,  interests,  and  passions  of 
millions,  living  and  dying  in  a  narrow  circle  erected  by  her 
own  vanities,  and  embellished  by  her  own  contracted  no 
tions  of  what  is  the  end  and  aim  of  human  existence,  and 
within  a  sphere  that  she  fancied  respectable  and  refined. 

As  for  the  race  of  the  Clawbonnys,  all  the  elderly  mem 
bers  of  this  extensive  family  lived  and  died  in  my  service ; 
or,  it  might  be  better  to  say,  I  lived  in  theirs.  Venus  saw 
several  repetitions  of  her  own  charms  in  the  offspring  of 
Neb  and  Chloe,  though  she  pertinaciously  insisted  to  the 
last,  that  Cupid,  as  a  step-husband,  had  no  legitimate  con 
nection  with  any  of  the  glistening,  thick-lipped,  chubby  set. 
But,  even  closer  family  ties  than  those  which  bound  my 
slaves  to  me,  are  broken  by  the  pressure  of  human  institu. 
tions.  The  conscript  fathers  of  New  York  had  long  before 
determined  that  domestic  slavery  should  not  continue  within 
their  borders ;  and,  one  by  one,  these  younger  dependants 
dropped  off,  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  town,  or  in  other  por 
tions  of  the  State;  until  few  were  lefl  beside  Neb,  his  consort, 
and  their  immediate  descendants.  Some  of  these  last  still 
cling  to  me ;  the  parents  having  instilled  into  the  children, 
in  virtue  of  their  example  and  daily  discourse,  feelings  that 
set  at  naught  the  innovations  of  a  changeable  state  of  society. 
With  them,  Clawbonny  is  still  Clawbonny ;  and  I  and  mine 
remain  a  race  apart,  in  their  perception  of  things.  I  gave 
Neb  and  Chloe  their  freedom-papers,  the  day  the  faithful 
couple  were  married,  and  at  once  relieved  their  posterity 
from  the  servitude  of  eight-and-twenty,  and  five-and-twenty 
years,  according  to  sex,  that  might  otherwise  have  hung 
over  all  their  elder  children,  until  the  law,  by  a  general 
sweep,  manumitted  everybody.  These  papers  Neb  put  in 
the  bottom  of  his  tobacco-box,  not  wishing  to  do  any  dis- 


408  MILES     WALLINGPORD. 

credit  to  a  gift  from  me ;  and  there  I  accidentally  saw  them, 
in  rags,  seventeen  years  later,  not  having  been  opened,  or 
seen  by  a  soul,  as  I  firmly  believe,  in  all  that  time.  It  is 
true,  the  subsequent  legislation  of  the  State  rendered  all  this 
of  no  moment ;  but  the  procedure  showed  the  character  and 
disposition  of  the  man,  demonstrating  his  resolution  to  stick 
by  me  to  the  last.  He  has  had  no  intention  to  free  me, 
whatever  may  have  been  my  plans  for  himself  and  his  race. 

I  never  had  more  than  one  conversation  with  either  Neb  or 
his  wife,  on  the  subject  of  wages,  and  then  I  discovered  how 
tender  a  thing  it  was,  with  the  fellow,  to  place  him  on  a 
level  with  the  other  hired  people  of  my  farm  and  house- 
hold. 

"  I  won'er  what  I  done,  Masser  Mile,  dat  you  want  to 
pay  me  wages,  like  a  hired  man !"  said  Neb,  half-disposed 
to  resent,  and  half-disposed  to  grieve  at  the  proposal.  "  I 
was  born  in  de  family,  and  it  seem  to  me  dat  quite  enough ; 
but,  if  dat  isn't  enough,  I  went  to  sea  wid  you,  Masser 
Mile,  de  fuss  day  you  go,  and  I  go  ebbery  time  since." 

These  words,  uttered  a  little  reproachfully,  disposed  of  the 
matter.  From  that  hour  to  this,  the  subject  of  wages  has 
never  been  broached  between  us.  When  Neb  wants  clothes 
he  goes  and  gets  them,  and  they  are  charged  to  "  Masser 
Mile ;"  when  he  wants  money  he  comes  and  gets  it,  never 
manifesting  the  least  shame  or  reluctance,  but  asking  for  all 
he  has  need  of,  like  a  man.  Chloe  does  the  same  with 
Lucy,  whom  she  regards,  in  addition  to  her  having  the 
honour  to  be  my  wife,  as  a  sort  of  substitute  for  "  Miss 
Grace."  With  this  honest  couple,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miles 
Wallingford,  of  Clawbonny,  and  Riversedge,  and  Union 
Place,  are  still  nothing  but  "  Masser  Mile"  and  "  Miss 
Lucy ;" — and  I  once  saw  an  English  traveller  take  out  her 
note-book,  and  write  something  very  funny,  I  dare  say, 
when  she  heard  Chloe  thus  address  the  mother  of  three  fine 
children,  who  were  hanging1  around  her  knee,  and  calling 
her  by  that,  the  most  endearing  of  all  appellations.  Chloe 
was  indifferent  to  the  note  of  the  traveller,  however,  still 
calling  her  mistress  "  Miss  Lucy,"  though  the  last  is  now  a 
grandmother. 

As  for  the  children  of  the  house  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  truth 
compels  me  to  say,  that  they  have  been  largely  influenced 


MILES     WALLINGPCRD  409 

by  the  spirit  of  the  age,  and  that  they  look  on  the  relation 
that  existed  for  more  than  a  century,  between  the  Walling- 
fords  and  the  Clawbonnys,  with  eyes  somewhat  different 
from  those  of  their  parents.  They  have  begun  to  migrate ; 
and  I  am  not  sorry  to  see  them  go.  Notwithstanding,  the  tie 
will  not  be  wholly  broken,  so  long  as  any  of  the  older  stock 
remain,  tradition  leaving  many  of  its  traces  among  them. 
Not  one  has  ever  left  my  rule  without  my  consent ;  and  J 
have  procured  places  for  them  all,  as  ambition,  or  curiosity, 
has  carried  them  into  the  world. 

As  for  this  new  spirit  of  the  age  that  is  doing  so  much 
among  us,  I  am  not  twaddler  enough  to  complain  of  all 
change,  for  I  know  that  many  of  these  changes  have  had 
the  most  beneficial  effects.  I  am  far  from  thinking  that 
domestic  slavery,  as  it  once  existed  at  Clawbonny,  is  a  pic 
ture  of  domestic  slavery  as  it  existed  throughout  the  land ; 
but  I  do  believe  that  the  institution,  as  it  was  formerly 
known  in  New  York,  was  quite  as  much  to  the  disadvan 
tage  of  the  white  man,  as  to  that  of  the  black.  There  was 
always  something  of  the  patriarchal  character  in  one  of  our 
households,  previously  to  the  change  in  the  laws ;  and  the 
relation  of  master  and  slave,  in  old,  permanent  families,  in 
which  plenty  was  no  stranger,  had  ever  more  or  less  of  that 
which  was  respectable  and  endearing.  It  is  not  so  much  in 
relation  to  the  abolition  spirit,  (if  it  would  only  confine  its 
exertions  to  communities  over  which  it  may  happen  to  pos 
sess  some  right  of  control,)  that  I  feel  alarmed  as  in  reference 
to  a  certain  spirit,  which  appears  to  think  there  always  must 
be  more  and  more  change,  and  that  in  connection  with  any 
specific  interest,  whatever  may  have  been  its  advancement 
under  previous  regimes ;  nothing  in  social  life  being  fully 
developed,  according  to  the  creed  of  these  movement-philo 
sophers.  Now,  in  my  view  of  the  matter,  the  two  most 
dangerous  of  all  parties  in  a  state,  are  that  which  sets  up 
conservatism  as  its  standard.,  and  that  which  sets  up  pro 
gress:  the  one  is  for  preserving  things  of  which  it  would  be 
better  to  be  rid,  while  the  other  crushes  all  that  is  necessary 
and  useful  in  its  headlong  course.  I  now  speak  of  these 
opposing  principles,  as  they  are  marshalled  in  parties,  oppo 
sition  giving  pertinacity  and  violence  to  each.  No  sano 
tpan  can  doubt  that,  in  the  progress  of  events,  much  is  pro- 
35 


MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

duced  that  ought  to  be  retained,  and  much  generated  that  it 
would  be  wiser  to  reject.  He,  alone,  is  the  safe  and  wise 
legislator,  who  knows  how,  and  when,  to  make  the  proper 
distinctions.  As  for  conservatism,  Lafayette  once  charac 
terized  it  excellently  well,  in  one  of  his  happiest  hits  in  the 
tribune.  "  Gentlemen  talk  of  the  just  medium  (juste  mi 
lieu)"  he  said,  "  as  if  it  embraced  a  clear  political  creed. 
We  all  know  what  the  just  medium  is,  as  relates  to  any 
particular  question  ;  it  is  simply  the  truth,  as  it  is  connected 
with  that  question.  But  when  gentlemen  say,  that  they  be 
long  to  the  June  milieu,  as  a  party,  and  that  they  intend  to 
steer  a  middle  course  in  all  the  public  events  of  the  day, 
they  remind  me  of  a  case  like  this — A  man  of  exaggerated 
notions  lays  down  the  proposition  that  four  and  four  make 
ten ;  another  of  more  discretion  and  better  arithmetic  com 
bats  this  idea,  by  maintaining  that  four  and  four  make 
only  eight ;  whereupon,  your  gentleman  of  the  juste  milieu, 
finds  himself  obliged  to  say,  l  Messieurs,  you  are  equally 
in  the  wrong ;  the  truth  never  lies  in  extremes,  and  four  and 
four  make  nine.' " 

What  is  true  of  conservatism,  as  a  principle,  is  still  more 
true  as  to  the  movement ;  for  it  often  happens  in  morals,  as 
well  as  in  physics,  that  the  remedy  is  worse  than  the  dis 
ease.  The  great  evil  of  Europe,  in  connection  with  interests 
of  this  nature,  arises  from  facts  that  have  little  or  no  influ 
ence  here.  There,  radical  changes  have  been  made,  the 
very  base  of  the  social  edifice  having  been  altered,  while 
much  of  the  ancient  architecture  remains  in  the  superstruc 
ture.  Where  this  is  the  case,  some  errors  may  be  pardoned 
in  the  artisans  who  are  for  reducing  the  whole  to  the  sim 
plicity  of  a  single  order.  But,  among  ourselves,  the  man 
who  can  see  no  end  to  anything  earthly,  ever  maintaining 
that  the  best  always  lies  beyond,  if  he  live  long  enough  to 
succeed,  may  live  long  enough  to  discover  that  truth  is  al- 
\vays  on  an  eminence,  and  that  the  downward  course  is  only 
too  easy  10  those  who  rush  in  so  headlong  a  manner  at  its 
goal,  as  to  suffer  the  impetus  of  the  ascent  to  carry  them 
past  the  apex.  A  social  fact  cannot  be  carried  out  to  de 
monstration  like  a  problem  in  Euclid,  the  ramifications  being 
BO  infinite  as  to  reduce  the  results  to  something  very  like  a 
conclusion  from  a  multitude  of  interests. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  411 

It  is  next  incumbent  to  speak  of  Marble.  He  passed  an 
entire  month  at  Clawbonny,  during  which  time  he  and  Neb 
rigged  the  Grace  and  Lucy,  seven  different  ways,  coming 
back  to  that  in  which  they  found  her,  as  the  only  rig  in 
which  she  would  sail;  no  bad  illustration,  by  the  way,  of 
what  is  too  often  the  winding  up  of  experiments  in  overdone 
political  movements.  Moses  tried  shooting,  which  he  had 
heard  belonged  to  a  country  life ;  and  he  had  a  sort  of  de 
sign  to  set  up  as  a  fourth  or  fifth  class  country  gentleman  ; 
but  his  legs  were  too  short  to  clamber  over  high  rail-fences 
with  any  comfort,  and  he  gave  up  the  amusement  in  despair. 
In  the  course  of  a  trial  of  ten  days,  he  brought  in  three 
robins,  a  small  squirrel,  and  a  crow ;  maintaining  that  he 
had  also  wounded  a  pigeon,  and  frightened  a  whole  flock 
of  quails.  I  have  often  bagged  ten  brace  of  woodcocks  of  a 
morning,  in  the  shooting-grounds  of  Clawbonny,  and  as 
many  quails  in  their  season. 

Six  weeks  after  our  marriage,  Lucy  and  I  paid  Willow 
Cove  a  visit,  where  we  passed  a  very  pleasant  week.  To 
my  surprise,  I  received  a  visit  from  Squire  Van  Tassel,  who 
seemed  to  bear  no  malice.  Marble  made  peace  with  him,  as 
soon  as  he  paid  back  the  amount  of  his  father's  bond,  prin 
cipal  and  interest,  though  he  always  spoke  of  him  con 
temptuously  to  me  in  private,  I  must  confess  I  was  astonished 
at  the  seemingly  forgiving  temper  of  the  old  usurer ;  but  I 
was  then  too  young  to  understand  that  there  are  two  princi 
ples  that  govern  men's  conduct  as  regards  their  associations; 
the  one  proceeding  from  humility  and  Christian  forgiveness, 
and  the  other  from  an  indifference  to  what  is  right.  I  am 
afraid  the  last  produces  more  of  what  is  called  a  forgiving 
temper  than  the  first;  men  being  often  called  vindictive, 
when  they  are  merely  honest. 

Marble  lost  his  mother  about  a  twelvemonth  after  we  re 
turned  from  our  unfortunate  voyage  in  the  Dawn.  A  month 
or  two  earlier,  he  lost  his  niece,  little  Kitty,  by  a  marriage 
with  the  son  of  *  neighbour  Bright.'  After  this,  he  passed 
much  of  his  time  at  Clawbonny,  making  occasional  visits  to 
us,  in  Chamber  street,  in  the  winter.  I  say  in  Chamber 
street,  as  trade  soon  drove  us  out  of  Lucy's  town  residence 
?n  Wall  street.  The  lot  on  which  the  last  once  stood  is  still 
feer  property,  and  is  a  small  fortune  of  itself.  I  purchased 


112  MILES     WALLINGFOR1>. 

and  built  in  Chamber  street,  in  1805,  making  an  excellent 
investment.  In  1825,  we  went  into  Bleecker  street,  a  mile 
higher  up  town,  in  order  to  keep  in  the  beau  quartier;  and 
I  took  advantage  of  the  scarcity  of  money  and  low  prices  of 
1839,  to  take  up  new  ground  in  Union  Place,  very  nearly  a 
league  from  the  point  where  Lucy  commenced  as  a  house 
keeper  in  the  good  and  growing  town  of  Manhattan. 

After  Marble  found  himself  an  orphan  again,  he  com 
plained  that  he  was  little  better  off  than  a  '  bloody  hermit' 
at  Willow  Cove,  and  began  to  talk  about  seeing  the  world. 
All  of  a  sudden,  he  made  his  appearance  at  Clawbonny, 
bag  and  baggage,  and  announced  an  intention  to  look  for  a 
mate's  berth,  in  some  East  Indiaman.  I  heard  his  story, 
kept  him  a  day  or  two  with  me,  while  I  superintended  the 
masons  who  were  building  my  addition  to  the  house,  which 
was  then  nearly  completed,  and  then  we  proceeded  to  town 
in  company.  1  took  Moses  to  the  ship-yards,  and  carried 
him  on  board  a  vessel  that  was  just  receiving  her  spars, 
(she  was  coppered  and  copper- fastened,  A.  No.  1,  of  live- 
oak  frame,  and  southern  pine  decks,  &c.,)  asking  him  how 
he  liked  her.  He  hoped  she  had  a  good  name.  "  Why, 
she  is  called  the  Smudge,"  I  answered.  "  I  hope  you  fancy 
it."  Moses  jerked  a  finger  over  his  shoulder,  as  much  as 
to  say  he  understood  me,  and  inquired  where  I  intended  to 
send  the  craft.  "  To  Canton,  with  you  for  master."  I  saw 
that  my  old  mate  was  touched  with  this  proof  of  confidence, 
and  that  his  self-esteem  had  so  much  risen  with  the  dis 
covery  of  his  origin  that  he  made  no  objections  to  the  trust, 
I  did  not  intend  to  go  regularly  into  commerce,  but  I  kept 
the  Smudge  running  many  years,  always  under  Marble, 
and  made  a  vast  deal  of  money  by  her.  Once  she  went  to 
Europe,  Lucy  and  I  going  in  her  as  passengers.  This  was 
after  the  death  of  my  dear  old  guardian,  who  made  such  an 
end,  as  became  his  virtuous  and  Christian  life.  We,  that  is 
Lucy  and  I,  remained  abroad  several  years,  returning  home 
in  the  Smudge,  on  the  last  voyage  she  ever  made  as  belong 
ing  to  me.  Neb  had  often  been  out  in  the  ship,  just  to  vary 
the  scene ;  and  he  came  to  Havre  in  her,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  when  '  Masser  Mile,'  '  Miss  Lucy,'  and  their  two 
*  young  Massers,'  and  two  '  young  Missuses,'  were  ready  to 
come  home.  I  was  a  good  deal  shocked  at  meeting  ray  old 


MILES     WALLINOFOUD.  413 

friend,  Moses,  on  this  occasion,  for  he  was  breaking  up  fast, 
being  now  hard  on  upon  seventy  ,•  &  time  of  life  when  most 
seamen  are  unfit  for  their  calling-.  Moses,  however,  had 
held  on,  with  a  determination  to  convey  us  all  back  to  Claw- 
bonny.  Three  days  after  we  had  sailed,  the  man  of  stone 
had  to  give  up,  and  take  to  his  berth.  I  saw  that  his  days 
were  numbered,  and  felt  it  to  be  a  duty  to  let  him  know  his 
real  situation.  It  was  an  unpleasant  office,  but  became  less 
so  by  the  resigned  and  manly  manner  in  which  the  invalid 
heard  me.  It  was  only  when  I  ceased  speaking,  that  he 
made  an  attempt  to  reply. 

**  I  have  known  that  the  Vy^ge  of  life  was  pretty  near  up, 
Miles,"  he  then  answered,  "  for  many  a  day.  When  the 
timbers  complain  and  the  new  tree-nails  hit  only  decayed 
wood,  it  is  time  to  think  of  breaking  up  the  hull  for  the 
craft's  copper,  and  old  iron.  I  've  pretty  much  worn  out 
the  Smudge,  and  the  Smudge  has  pretty  much  worn  out 
me.  I  shall  never  see  Ameriky,  and  I  now  give  up  charge 
of  the  craft  to  you.  She  is  your  own,  and  nobody  can 
take  better  care  of  her,  I  own  I  should  like  to  be  cased  in 
something  that  once  belonged  to  her.  There's  the  bulk 
head  that  was  taken  down,  to  alter  the  state-rooms  for  your 
family — it  would  make  as  comfortable  a  coffin  as  a  body 
could  want." 

I  promised  the  old  man  all  should  be  done,  as  he  desired. 
After  a  short  pause,  it  struck  me  the  present  might  be  a 
favourable  moment  to  say  a  word  on  the  subject  of  the  fu 
ture.  Marble  was  never  a  vicious  man,  nor  could  he  be 
called  a  particularly  wicked  man,  as  the  world  goes.  Ho 
was  thoroughly  honest,  after  making  a  few  allowances  for 
the  peculiar  opinions  of  seamen,  and  his  sins  were  princi 
pally  those  of  omission.  But,  of  religious  instruction  he 
had  literally  known  none,  in  early  life.  That  which  ho 
had  picked  up  in  his  subsequent  career,  was  not  of  the  most 
orthodox  character.  I  had  often  thought  Marble  was  well 
disposed  on  such  subjects,  but  opportunity  was  always  want 
ing  to  improve  this  hopeful  disposition.  Accordingly,  I  now 
spoke  plainly  to  him,  and  I  could  see  his  still  keen  eyes 
turned  wistfully  towards  me,  more  than  once,  as  ho  listened 
with  an  absorbed  attention. 

"  Ay,  ay,  Miles,"  ho  answered,  when  I  waa  through* 
35  * 


414  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  this  may  all  be  true  enough,  but  it 's  rather  late  in  the 
day  for  me  to  go  to  school.  I  've  heard  most  of  it  before, 
in  one  shape  or  another,  but  it  always  came  so  much  in 
scraps  and  fragments,  that  before  I  could  bend  one  idee  on 
to  another,  so  as  to  make  any  useful  gear  of  the  whole, 
so-me  of  the  pieces  have  slipped  through  my  fingers.  Hows- 
ever,  I  've  been  hard  at  work  at  the  good  book,  the  whole 
of  this  v'y'ge,  and  you  know  it 's  been  a  long  one ;  and  T 
must  say  that  I  've  picked  up  a  good  deal  that  seems  to  me 
to  be  of  the  right  quality.  Now  I  always  thought  it  was 
one  of  the  foolishest  things  a  man  could  do,  to  forgive  one's 
enemies,  my  rule  having  been  to  return  broadside  for  broad 
side,  as  you  must  pretty  well  know ;  but,  I  now  see  that  it 
is  more  like  a  kind  natur'  to  pardon,  than  to  revenge." 

"  My  dear  Moses,  this  is  a  very  hopeful  frame  of  mind ; 
carry  out  this  feeling  in  all  things,  leaning  on  the  Saviour 
alone  for  your  support,  and  your  dying  hour  may  well  be 
the  happiest  of  your  life." 

"  There's  that  bloody  Smudge,  notwithstanding  ;  I  hardly 
think  it  will  be  expected  of  me  to  look  upon  him  as  anything 
but  a  'long-shore  pirate,  and  a  fellow  to  be  disposed  of  in 
the  shortest  way  possible.  As  for  old  Van  Tassel,  he's 
gone  to  square  the  yards  in  a  part  of  the  univarse  where  all 
his  tricks  will  be  known ;  and  I  hold  it  to  be  onreasonable 
to  carry  spite  ag'in  a  man  beyond  the  grave.  I  rather  think 
I  have  altogether  forgiven  him ;  though,  to  speak  the  truth, 
he  desarved  a  rope's-ending." 

I  understood  Marble  much  better  than  he  understood  him 
self.  He  felt  the  sublime  beauty  of  the  Christian  morality, 
but,  at  the  same  time,  he  felt  there  were  certain  notions  so 
rooted  in  his  own  heart,  that  it  exceeded  his  power  to  ex 
tract  them.  As  for  Smudge,  his  mind  had  its  misgivings 
concerning  the  propriety  of  his  own  act,  and,  with  the  quick 
ness  of  his  nature,  sought  to  proteet  itself  against  its  own 
suggestions,  by  making  an  exception  of  that  wretch,  as 
against  the  general  mandates  of  God.  Van  Tassel  he  pro 
bably  could,  in  a  manner,  pardon,  the  mischief  having  been 
in  a  measure  repaired ;  though  it  was  a  forgiveness  that  was 
strangely  tinctured  with  his  own  deep  contempt  for  the  mean 
ness  of  the  transgressor. 

Our  conversation  lasted  a  long  time.     At  length  Lucy 


MILES     WALLINGFOUD.  415 

joined  in  it,  when  I  thought  it  wisest  to  leave  the  old  tar  in 
the  hands  of  one  so  well  fitted  by  nature  and  education  to 
be  the  instrument,  under  the  providence  of  God,  of  bringing 
him  to  a  more  healthful  view  of  his  condition.  I  had  the 
ship  to  take  care  of,  and  this  was  a  good  excuse  for  not  in 
terfering  much  with  what  passed  between  the  dying  man 
and  her  who  might  almost  be  termed  his  ministering  angel. 
I  overheard  many  of  their  conferences,  and  was  present  at 
some  of  their  prayers,  as  were  my  sons  and  daughters;  be 
ing  thus  enabled  to  understand  the  progress  that  was  made, 
and  the  character  of  the  whole  procedure. 

It  was  an  admirable  sight,  truly,  to  see  that  still  lovely 
woman,  using  all  the  persuasion  of  her  gentle  rhetoric,  all 
the  eloquence  of  her  warm  feelings  and  just  mind,  devoting 
herself  for  days  and  days,  to  the  labour  of  leading  such  a 
spirit  as  that  of  Marble's  to  entertain  just  and  humble  views 
of  his  own  relation  to  the  Creator  and  his  Son,  the  Saviour 
of  men.  I  will  not  say  that  complete  success  crowned  the 
pious  efforts  of  the  single-hearted  woman  it  was  my  blessed 
fortune  to  call  my  wife :  this,  perhaps,  was  not  to  be  ex 
pected.  It  required  a  power  exceeding  hers  to  guide  the 
human  heart  at  seventy,  after  a  seaman's  life,  to  a  full  re 
pentance  of  its  sins;  but,  by  the  grace  of  God,  so  much 
seemed  to  be  accomplished,  as  to  give  us  all  reason  to  hope 
that  the  seed  had  taken  root,  and  that  the  plant  might  grow 
under  the  guidance  of  that  Spirit  in  whose  likeness  the  most 
lowly  of  the  race  has  been  created. 

The  passage  was  long,  but  very  tranquil,  and  there  was 
ample  time  for  all  that  has  been  related.  The  ship  was  still 
to  the  eastward  of  the  Grand  Banks,  when  Marble  ceased 
to  converse  much ;  though  it  is  evident  his  thoughts  were 
intently  musing.  He  fell  away  fast,  and  I  began  to  look 
forward  to  his  final  departure,  as  an  event  that  might  occur 
at  any  hour.  He  did  not  seem  to  suffer,  but  his  hold  of  life 
gradually  gave  way,  and  the  spirit  was  about  to  take  its  de 
parture,  purely  on  account  of  the  decayed  condition  of  the 
earthly  tenement  in  which  it  had  so  long  dwelt,  as  the  stork 
finally  deserts  the  tottering-  chimney. 

About  a  week  after  this  change,  my  son  Miles  came  to 
me  on  deck,  and  informed  me  his  dear  mother  desired  to  see 
me  in  the  cabin.  On  going  below,  I  was  met  by  Lucy,  with 


416  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

a  face  that  denoted  how  solemn  she  felt  was  the  character 
of  the  intelligence  she  had  to  communicate. 

"  The  moment  is  at  hand,  dear  Miles,"  she  said. — "  Our 
old  friend  is  about  to  be  called  away." 

I  felt  a  pang  at  this  speech,  though  I  had  long  expected 
the  result.  Many  of  the  earlier  and  more  adventurous  years 
of  my  life  passed  rapidly  in  review  before  me,  and  I  found 
the  image  of  the  dying  man  blended  with  nearly  all.  What 
ever  may  have  been  his  peculiarities,  to  me  he  had  always 
been  true.  From  the  hour  when  I  first  shipped,  as  a  run 
away  boy,  on  board  the  John,  down  to  that  hour,  Moses 
Marble  had  proved  himself  a  firm  and  disinterested  friend  to 
Miles  Wallingford. 

"  Is  he  conscious?"  I  asked,  anxiously.  "  When  I  last 
saw  him,  I  thought  his  mind  wandered  a  little." 

"  Perhaps  it  did ;  but  he  is  now  more  collected,  if  not 
entirely  so.  There  is  reason  to  think  he  has  at  length  felt 
some  of  the  influence  of  the  Redeemer's  sacrifice.  For  the 
last  week,  the  proofs  of  this  have  been  increasing." 

No  more  passed  between  Lucy  and  me,  on  the  subject, 
at  that  time ;  but  I  entered  the  cabin  in  which  the  cot  of 
Marble  had  been  slung.  It  was  a  spacious,  airy  room,  for 
a  ship ;  one  that  had  been  expressly  fitted  by  my  orders,  for 
the  convenience  of  Lucy  and  her  two  daughters,  but  which 
those  dear,  self-denying  creatures  had  early  and  cheerfully 
given  up  to  the  possession  of  their  old  friend. 

As  yet,  I  have  not  particularly  spoken  of  these  two  girls, 
the  eldest  of  whom  was  named  Grace,  and  the  youngest 
Lucy.  At  that  time,  the  first  was  just  fifteen,  while  her 
sister  was  two  years  younger.  By  a  singular  coincidence. 
Grace  resembled  the  women  of  my  family  most ;  while  the 
latter,  the  dear,  ingenuous,  frank,  pretty  little  thing,  had  so 
much  likeness  to  her  mother,  when  at  the  same  time  of  life, 
that  I  often  caught  her  in  my  arms,  and  kissed  her,  as  she 
uttered  some  honest  sentiment,  or  laughed  joyously  and 
melodiously,  as  had  been  the  practice  of  her  who  bore  her, 
twenty  years  before.  On  those  occasions,  Lucy  would 
smile,  and  sometimes  a  slight  blush  would  suifuse  her  face ; 
for  I  could  see  she  well  understood  the  impulse  which  would 
so  suddenly  carry  me  off  to  the  days  of  my  boyhood  and 
boyish  affection. 


MILES     W  ALLI  NG  FORD.  417 

On  the  present  solemn  occasion  both  the  girls  were  in  tho 
cabin,  struggling  to  be  calm,  and  doing  all  that  lay  in  their 
power  to  solace  the  dying  man.  Grace,  the  oldest,  M  as  the 
most  active  and  efficient,  of  course,  her  tender  years  indu 
cing  diffidence  in  her  sister ;  still,  that  little  image  of  her 
mother  could  not  be  kept  entirely  in  the  back-ground,  when 
the  heart  and  the  desire  to  be  useful  were  urging  her  to  come 
out  of  herself,  in  order  to  share  in  her  sister's  duties. 

I  found  Marble  quite  sensible,  and  the  anxious  manner  in 
which  he  slowly  examined  all  the  interested  faces  that  were 
now  gathered  about  his  bed,  proved  how  accurately  he  noted 
the  present  and  the  absent.  Twice  did  he  go  over  us  all, 
ere  he  spoke  in  the  husky  tones  that  usually  precede  death — 

"  Call  Neb,"  he  said — "  I  took  leave  of  my  mates,  and 
of  all  the  rest  of  the  men,  yesterday ;  but  I  consider  Neb 
as  one  of  the  family,  Miles,  and  left  him  for  the  last." 

This  I  knew  to  be  true,  though  I  purposely  absented  my 
self  from  a  scene  that  I  well  understood  would  have  to  be 
repeated  in  my  case.  Neb  was  summoned  accordingly,  not 
a  syllable  being  uttered  among  us,  until  the  black  stood  just 
without  the  circle  of  my  own  wife  and  children.  Moses 
watched  the  arrangement  jealously,  and  it  seems  he  was 
dissatisfied  at  seeing  his  old  shipmate  keeping  so  much  aloof 
at  that  solemn  and  absorbing  moment. 

"  You  are  but  a  nigger,  I  know,  Neb,"  the  old  seaman 
got  out,  "  but  your  heart  would  do  honour  to  a  king.  It 's 
next  to  Miles's,  and  that 's  as  much  as  can  be  said  of  any 
man's.  £Jome  nearer,  boy  ;  none  here  will  grudge  you  the 
liberty." 

Little  Lucy  drew  back  in  an  instant,  and  fairly  pulled 
Neb  into  the  place  she  herself  had  just  before  occupied. 

"  Bless  you  for  that,  young  'un,"  said  Marble.  "  I  didn't 
know  your  mother  when  she  was  of  your  age,  but  I  can  see 
that  one  cat-block  is  not  more  like  another  than  you  are  like 
what  she  was  at  your  age ;  keep  that  likeness  up,  my  dear, 
and  then  your  father  will  be  as  happy  and  fortinate  in  his 
darter  as  he  has  been  in  his  wife.  Well,  nobody  desarvea 
his  luck  better  than  Miles — Providential  luck,  I  mean,  my 
dear  madam  Wallingford,"  interpreting  a  sorrowful  expres* 
sion  of  Lucy's  eyes  aright ;  "  for,  thanks  to  your  teaching, 


418  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

I  now  understand  there  is  a  divine  director  of  all  our  fortins, 
whether  ashore,  or  afloat,  black  or  white." 

"  There  is  not  a  sparrow  falls,  Captain  Marble,"  said  the 
gentle,  earnest  voice  of  my  wife,  «'  that  he  does  not  note  it." 

"  Yes,  so  I  understand  it,  now,  though  cnce  I  thought  lit 
tle  of  such  things.  Thus,  when  we  were  wracked  in  tho 
Dawn,  Neb,  it  was  by  God's  will,  and  with  a  design,  like,  to 
bring  us  three  all  on  to  our  present  fortin,  and  present  frame 
of  mind ;  should  I  ever  use  the  word  luck,  ag'in,  which  I 
may  be  likely  enough  to  do  from  habit,  you  are  all  to  un 
derstand  I  mean  what  I  call  Providential  luck.  Yes,  madam 
Wallingford,  I  comprehend  it  parfectly,  and  shall  never  for 
get  your  kindness,  which  has  been  to  me  the  best  turn  of 
Providential  luck  that  has  ever  happened.  I  've  sent  for 
you,  Neb,  to  have  a  parting  word,  and  to  give  you  the  ad 
vice  of  an  old  man  before  I  quit  this  world  altogether." 

Neb  began  to  twist  his  fingers,  and  I  could  see  tears  glis 
tening  in  his  eyes ;  for  his  attachment  to  Marble  was  of  very 
long  standing  and  of  proof.  When  men  have  gone  through^ 
together,  as  much  as  we  three  had  experienced  in  company, 
indeed,  the  most  trifling  griefs  of  every-day  life  get  to  appear 
so  insignificant,  that  our  connection  seems  to  be  one  of  a 
nature  altogether  stronger  than  the  commoner  ties. 

"  Yes,  sah,  Cap'in  Marble,  sah ;  what  please  to  be  your 
wish,  sah  ?"  asked  the  negro,  struggling  to  subdue  his  grief. 

"  To  say  a  few  words  of  advice,  Neb,  to  take  leave  of 
my  friends,  and  then  to  be  struck  ofl*  the  shipping  articles 
of  life.  Old  age  and  hard  sarvice,  Neb,  has  made  me  veer 
cable  to  the  better  end.  The  stopper  is  working  loose,  and 
a  few  more  surges  will  leave  the  hulk  adrift.  The  case  is 
different  with  you,  who  are  in  your  prime, — and  a  prime 
chap  be  you,  on  a  yard  or  at  the  wheel.  My  parting  advice 
to  you,  Neb,  is,  to  hold  out  as  you  've  begun.  I  do  n't  say 
you  're  without  failin's,  (what  nigger  is  1)  but  you  're  a  good 
fellow,  and  as  sartain  to  be  found  in  your  place  as  the 
pumps.  In  the  first  place,  you  're  a  married  man ;  and, 
though  your  wife  is  only  a  negress,  she 's  your  wife,  and 
you  must  stick  to  her  through  thick  and  thin.  Take  your 
master  as  an  example,  and  obsarve  how  he  loves  and  cher 
ishes  your  mistress,"  [here  Lucy  pressed,  gently,  closer  to 
my  side;]  and  then,  as  to  your  children,  bring  'em  up 


MILES     WALLINGPORD.  419 

accordin'  to  the  advice  of  Madam  Wallingford.  You  can 
never  sail  under  better  instructions  than  hern,  as  I  know,  by 
experience.  Be  particular  to  make  that  Hector  of  yours 
knock  off  from  swearing :  he 's  begun,  and  what 's  begun  in 
sin  is  pretty  sartain  to  have  an  indin'.  Talk  to  him,  first, 
and,  if  that  won't  do,  rope's-end  it  out  of  him.  There  's 
great  vartue  in  ratlin  stuff,  among  boys.  As  for  yourself, 
Neb,  hold  on  as  you  have  begun,  and  the  Lord  will  have 
marcy  on  you,  before  the  v'y'ge  is  up." 

Here  Marble  ceased  from  exhaustion ;  though  he  made  a 
sign  to  Neb  not  to  move,  as  he  had  more  to  say.  After 
resting  a  little,  he  felt  under  his  pillow,  whence  he  produced 
a  very  old  tobacco-box,  fumbled  about  until  he  had  opened 
it,  took  a  small  bite,  and  shut  the  box  again.  All  this  was 
done  very  slowly,  and  with  the  uncertain,  feeble  movements 
of  a  dying  man.  When  the  lid  was  replaced,  Marble  held 
the  box  towards  Neb,  and  resumed  his  address. 

"  Use  that  for  my  sake,  Neb,"  he  said.  "  It  is  full  of 
excellent  tobacco,  and  the  box  has  the  scent  of  thirty  years 
in  it — that  being  the  time  it  has  sailed  in  my  company. 
That  box  has  been  in  nine  fights,  seven  wracks,  and  has 
seen  more  boat-sarvice  than  most  London  watermen,  or 
any  Whitehaller  of  'em  all.  Among  other  explites,  it  has 
been  round  the  world  four  times,  besides  having  run  the 
Straits  of  Magellan  in  the  dark,  as  might  be ;  as  your  mas 
ter  and  you  know  as  well  as  I  do.  Take  that  box,  therefore, 
lad,  and  be  particular,  always,  to  put  none  but  the  best  of 
pig-tail  in  it — for  it  's  used  to  that  only.  And  now,  Neb,  a 
word  about  a  little  duty  you  're  to  do  for  me,  when  you  get 
in.  Ask  your  master,  first,  for  leave,  and  then  go  up  to 
Willow  Cove,  and  carry  my  blessin'  to  Kitty  and  her  chil 
dren.  It 's  easy  done,  if  a  man  sets  about  it  in  the  right 
spirit.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  go  up  to  the  Cove,  and  say 
that  I  prayed  to  God  to  bless  'em  all,  before  I  died.  Do  you 
think  you  can  remember  that  ?" 

"  I  try,  Cap'in  Marble,  sah — yes,  sah,  I  try  all  I  can, 
dough  I  'm  no  scholar." 

"  Perhaps  you  had  better  confide  this  office  to  me,"  said 
the  musical  voice  of  my  wife. 

Marble  was  pleased,  and  he  seemed  every  way  disposed 
to  accept  the  offer. 


MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

"  I  did  n't  like  to  trouble  you  so  much,"  he  answered, 
"  though  I  feel  grateful  for  the  offer.  Well,  then,  Neb,  you 
may  leave  the  blessin'  unsaid,  as  your  mistress  is  so  kind 

hold  on  a  bit :  you  can  give  it  to  Chloe  and  her  little 

family ;  all  but  Hector,  I  mean — but  not  to  him,  unless  he 
knocks  off  swearing !  As  soon  as  he  does  that,  why  let 
him  have  his  share.  Now,  Neb,  give  me  your  hand.  Good 
bye,  boy  :  you  Ve  been  true  to  me,  and  God  bless  you  for 
it.  You  are  but  a  nigger,  I  know;  but  there  's  One  in 
whose  eyes  your  soul  is  as  precious  as  that  of  many  a 
prince  and  priest." 

Neb  shook  hands  with  his  old  commander,  broke  out  of 
the  circle,  rushed  into  the  steerage,  and  blubbered  like  a 
baby.  In  the  meantime  Marble  paused  to  recover  his  own 
self-possession,  which  had  been  a  little  disturbed  by  the 
feeling  manifested  by  the  black.  As  soon  as  he  felt  himself 
a  little  composed,  he  hunted  about  his  cot  until  he  found 
two  small  paper  boxes,  each  of  which  contained  a  very 
pretty  ring,  that  it  seemed  he  had  purchased  for  this  express 
purpose  when  last  in  port.  These  rings  he  gave  to  my 
daughters,  who  received  the  presents  sobbing,  though  with 
strong  natural  exhibitions  of  the  friendly  sentiments  they 
entertained  for  him. 

"  Your  father  and  I  have  gone  through  many  hardships 
and  trials  together,"  he  said,  "  and  I  love  you  all  even  more 
than  I  love  my  own  relations.  I  hope  this  is  not  wrong, 
madam  Wallingford,  for  it 's  out  of  my  power  to  help  it. 
I  Ve  already  given  my  keep-sakes  to  the  boys,  and  to  your 
parents,  and  I  hope  all  of  you  will  sometimes  remember  the 
poor  old  sea-dog  that  God,  in  his  wisdom,  threw  like  a  waif 
in  your  way,  that  he  might  be  benefited  by  your  society. 
There 's  your  polar  star,  young  'uns,"  pointing  to  my  wife. 
"  Keep  God  in  mind  always,  and  give  to  this  righteous  wo 
man  the  second  place  in  your  hearts  ;  not  that  I  say  a  word, 
or  think  anything  ag'in  your  father,  who 's  a  glorious  fellow 
in  his  way,  but,  a'ter  all,  young  women  should  copy  a'ter 
their  mothers,  when  they  Ve  such  a  mother  as  yourn,  the 
best  of  fathers  fallin'  far  astern,  in  gentleness  and  other  var- 
tues." 

The  girls  wept  freely,  and  Marble,  after  waiting1  a  few 
minutes  took  a  solemn  leave  of  all  my  children,  desiring 


MILES    WALLINGPORD  421 

everybody  but  Lucy  and  myself  to  quit  the  cabin.  An  hour 
passed  in  discourse  with  us  two,  during  which  Moses  fre 
quently  exhorted  me  to  give  ear  to  the  pious  counsels  of  my 
wife,  for  he  manifested  much  anxiety  for  the  future  welfare 
of  my  soul. 

"  I  've  generalized  a  great  deal  over  that  affair  of  Smudge, 
the  whole  of  this  v'y'ge,"  he  continued,  "  and  I  've  had 
sore  misgivings  consarning  the  explite.  "Madam  Walling- 
ford,  however,  has  eased  my  mind  on  that  score,  by  show 
ing  me  how  to  lay  the  burthen  of  this,  with  all  the  rest  of 
the  load  of  my  sins,  on  the  love  of  Christ.  I  am  resigned 
to  go,  Miles,  for  it  is  time,  and  I  'm  getting  to  be  useless. 
It 's  wicked  to  wish  to  run  a  ship  after  her  frame  has  worked 
loose,  and  nothing  now  fastens  me  to  life  but  you.  I  own 
it 's  hard  to  part,  and  my  mind  has  had  some  weakness  on 
the  matter.  However,  Miles,  my  dear  boy,  for  boy  you  are 
still  in  my  eyes,  there  is  comfort  in  looking  ahead.  Go  by 
your  wife's  rules,  and  when  the  v'y'ge  is  up,  we  shall  all 
find  ourselves  in  the  same  haven." 

"  It  gives  me  much  happiness,  Moses,  to  find  you  in  this 
frame  of  mind,"  I  answered.  "  Since  you  must  quit  us, 
you  will  not  leave  one  behind  of  the  name  of  Wallingford, 
that  will  not  rejoice  at  this  prospect  for  the  future.  As  for 
your  sins,  God  has  both  the  power  and  the  will  to  lighten 
you  of  their  weight,  when  he  finds  you  disposed  to  penitence, 
and  to  make  use  of  the  mediation  of  his  blessed  Son.  If 
there  is  anything  you  desire  to  have  done,  hereafter,  this  is 
a  very  proper  time  to  let  me  know  it." 

"  I  Ve  made  a  will,  Miles,  and  you  '11  find  it  in  my  desk. 
There  are  some  trifles  given  to  you  and  yourn,  but  you  want 
not  gold,  and  the  rest  all  goes  to  Kitty  and  her  children. 
There  is  a  p'int,  however,  on  which  my  mind  is  very  onde- 
tarmined,  and  I  will  now  lay  it  before  you.  Don't  you  think 
it  more  becoming  for  a  seaman  to  be  buried  in  blue  water, 
than  to  be  tuck'd  up  in  a  church-yard  ?  I  do  not  like 
tombstones,  having  had  too  much  of  them  in  'arly  youth, 
and  feel  as  if  I  want  sea-room.  What  is  your  opinion, 
Miles  ?" 

"  Decide  for  yourself.     Your  wishes  will  be  our  law." 

"  Then  roll  me  up  in  my  cot,  and  launch  me  overboard, 
in  tho  old  way.  I  have  sometimes  thought  it  might  be  well 
30 


422  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

to  lie  at  my  mother's  side ;  but  she  '11  excuse  an  old  tar  tor 
preferring  blue  water  to  one  of  your  country  church-yards." 

After  this,  I  had  several  interviews  with  the  old  man, 
though  he  said  nothing  more  on  the  subject  of  his  interment, 
that  of  his  property,  or  that  of  his  departure.  Lucy  read 
the  bible  to  him,  two  or  three  times  every  day,  and  she 
prayed  with  him  often.  On  one  occasion,  I  heard  a  low, 
sweet  voice,  near  his  cot,  and  taking  a  look,  ascertained  it 
was  my  little  pet,  my  daughter  Lucy,  then  only  thirteen, 
reading  a  second  time  a  chapter  that  her  mother  had  gone 
through,  only  an  hour  before,  with  some  of  her  own  re 
marks.  The  comments  were  wanting  now,  but  the  voice 
had  the  same  gentle  earnestness,  the  same  sweet  modula 
tions,  and  the  same  impressive  distinctness  as  that  of  the 
mother ! 

Marble  lived  until  we  had  passed  within  the  Gulf-Stream, 
dying  easily  and  without  a  groan,  with  all  my  family,  Neb  and 
the  first-mate,  assembled  near  his  cot.  The  only  thing  that 
marked  his  end  was  a  look  of  singular  significance  that  he 
cast  on  my  wife,  not  a  minute  before  he  breathed  his  last. 
There  he  lay,  the  mere  vestige  of  the  robust  hardy  seaman 
I  had  once  known,  a  child  in  physical  powers,  and  about  to 
make  the  last  great  change.  Material  as  were  the  altera 
tions  in  the  man,  from  what  he  had  been  when  in  his  pride, 
I  thought  the  spiritual  or  intellectual  part  of  his  being  was 
less  to  be  recognised  than  the  bodily.  Certainly  that  look 
was  full  of  resignation  and  hope ;  and  we  had  reason  to  be 
lieve  that  this  rude  but  honest  creature  was  spared  long 
enough  to  complete  the  primary  object  of  his  existence. 

In  obedience  to  his  own  earnest  request,  though  sorely 
against  the  feelings  of  my  wife  and  daughters,  I  buried  the 
body  of  my  old  friend  in  the  ocean,  six  days  before  we  made 
the  land. 

And  now  it  remains  only  to  speak  of  Lucy.  I  have  de 
ferred  this  agreeable  duty  to  the  last,  passing  over  long  years 
that  were  pregnant  with  many  changes,  in  order  to  conclude 
with  this  delightful  theme. 

The  first  few  years  of  my  married  life  were  years  of  bliss 
to  me.  I  lived  under  a  constant  sense  of  happiness  ;  a  hap 
piness  that  man  can  derive  only  from  a  union  with  a  woman 
of  whom  his  reason  and  principles  as  much  approve,  as  his 


MILES     WALLINGFORD.  423 

tastes  and  passion  cherish.  I  do  not  mean  to  be  understood 
that  the  years  which  have  succeeded  were  a  whit  less  happy ; 
for,  in  a  certain  sense,  they  have  been  more  so,  and  have 
gone  on  increasing  in  happiness  down  to  the  present  hour , 
but,  because  time  and  use  finally  so  far  accustomed  me  to 
this  intimate  connection  with  purity,  virtue,  female  disinter- 
estedness  and  feminine  delicacy,  that  I  should  have  missed 
them,  as  things  incorporated  with  my  very  existence,  had  I 
been  suddenly  deprived  of  my  wife,  quite  as  much  as  in  the 
first  years  of  my  married  life,  I  enjoyed  them  as  things 
hitherto  unknown  to  me. 

As  I  ride  over  the  fields  of  Clawbonny,  even  at  this  day, 
I  recall  with  tranquil  delight,  and  I  trust  with  humble  grati 
tude,  the  manner  in  which  those  blessed  early  years  of  our 
marriage  passed.  That  was  the  period  when  every  thought 
of  mine  was  truly  shared  by  Lucy.  She  accompanied  me 
in  my  daily  rides  or  drives,  and  listened  to  every  suggestion 
that  fell  from  my  lips,  with  kind  interest  and  the  most  in 
dulgent  attention,  rendering  me  back  thought  for  thought, 
feeling  for  feeling,  laugh  for  laugh ;  and,  occasionally,  tear 
for  tear.  Not  an  emotion  could  become  aroused  in  my 
breast  that  it  did  not  meet  with  its  reflection  in  her's ;  or  a 
sense  of  the  ludicrous  be  awakened,  that  her  keen  but  chas 
tened  humour  did  not  increase  its  effect  by  sympathy.  Those 
were  the  years  in  which  were  planned  and  executed  the 
largest  improvements  for  the  buildings,  pleasure-grounds, 
and  fields  of  Clawbonny.  We  built  extensively,  not  only 
out-houses  and  stables  better  suited  to  our  present  means, 
and  more  enlarged  mode  of  living,  than  those  which  existed 
in  my  father's  time,  but,  as  has  been  stated  before,  we  added 
to  the  dwelling,  preserving  its  pleasing  confusion  and  irre 
gularity  of  architecture.  After  passing  the  first  summer 
which  succeeded  our  marriage  in  this  manner,  I  told  Lucy 
it  was  time  to  stop  building  and  improving  my  own  place, 
in  order  that  some  attention  might  be  bestowed  on  that  she 
had  inherited  from  Mrs.  Bradfort,  and  which  was  also  old 
family  property. 

"  Do  not  think  of  it,  Miles,"  she  said.  "  Keep  Rivers- 
edge  in  good  order,  and  no  more.  Rupert,"  who  was  then 
living,  and  in  possession,  "  will  see  that  nothing  goes  to 
Waste ;  but  Clawbonny,  dear  Clawbonny,  is  the  true  home 


424  MILES     WALLINGFORD. 

of  a  Wallingford — and  I  am  now  a  Wallingford,  you  will 
remember.  Should  this  precious  boy  of  ours  Jive  to  become 
a  man,  and  marry,  the  old  West-Chester  property  can  be 
used  by  him,  until  we  are  ready  to  give  him  up  possession, 
here."  ' 

This  plan  has  not  been  literally  carried  out ;  for  Miles, 
my  eldest  son,  lives  with  us  at  Clawbonny,  in  the  summer ; 
and  his  noisy  boys  are  at  this  moment  playing  a  game  of 
ball  in  a  field  that  has  been  expressly  devoted  to  their 
amusements. 

The  period  which  succeeded  the  first  half-dozen  years  of 
my  union  with  Lucy,  was  not  less  happy  than  the  first  had 
Deen ;  though  it  assumed  a  new  character.  Our  children 
then  came  into  the  account,  not  as  mere  playthings,  and  lit 
tle  beings  to  be  most  tenderly  loved  and  cared  for,  but  as 
creatures  that  possess  the  image  of  God  in  their  souls,  and 
whose  future  characters,  in  a  measure,  depended  on  our  in 
struction.  The  manner  in  which  Lucy  governed  her  chil 
dren,  and  led  them  by  gentle  means  to  virtue  and  truth,  has 
always  been  a  subject  of  the  deepest  admiration  and  grati 
tude  with  me.  Her  rule  has  been  truly  one  of  love.  I  do 
not  know  that  I  ever  heard  her  voice  raised  in  anger,  to  any 
human  being,  much  less  to  her  own  offspring ;  but  whenever 
reproof  has  come,  it  has  come  in  the  language  of  interest 
and  affection,  more  or  less  qualified  by  severity,  as  circum 
stances  may  have  required.  The  result  has  been  all  that 
our  fondest  hopes  could  have  led  us  to  anticipate. 

When  we  travelled,  it  was  with  all  our  young  people, 
and  a  new  era  of  happiness,  heightened  by  the  strongest 
domestic  affection,  opened  on  us.  All  who  have  seen  the 
world  have  experienced  the  manner  in  which  our  intellectual 
existences,  as  it  might  be,  expand ;  but  no  one,  who  has  not 
experienced  it,  can  tell  the  deep,  heart-felt  satisfaction  there 
is,  in  receiving  this  enlargement  of  the  moral  creature,  in 
close  association  with  those  we  love  most  on  earth.  The 
manner  in  which  Lucy  enjoyed  all  she  saw  and  learned,  on 
our  first  visit  to  the  other  hemisphere  ;  her  youngest  child — 
all  four  of  our  children  were  born  within  the  first  eight  years 
of  our  marriage — her  youngest  child  was  then  long  past  its 
infancy,  and  she  had  leisure  to  enjoy  herself,  in  increasing  the 
happiness  of  her  offspring.  She  had  improved  her  mind  by 


MILES     WALLINOFORD.  425 

reading ;  and  her  historical  lore,  in  particular,  was  always 
ready  to  be  produced  for  the  common  advantage.  There 
was  no  ostentation  in  this;  but  everything  was  produced 
just  as  if  each  had  a  right  to  its  use.  Then  it  was,  I  felt 
the  immense  importance  of  having  a  companion,  in  an  in 
tellectual  sense,  in  a  wife.  Lucy  had  always  been  intelli 
gent  ;  but  I  never  fully  understood  her  superiority  in  this 
respect,  until  we  travelled  together,  amid  the  teeming  recol 
lections  and  scenes  of  the  old  world.  That  America  is  the 
greatest  country  of  ancient  or  modern  times,  I  shall  not 
deny.  Everybody  says  it  j  and  what  everybody  says,  must 
be  true.  Nevertheless,  I  will  venture  to  hint,  that,  cateri* 
paribus,  and  where  there  is  the  disposition  to  think  at  all, 
the  intellectual  existence  of  every  American  who  goes  to 
Europe,  is  more  than  doubled  in  its  intensity.  This  is  the 
country  of  action,  not  of  thought,  or  speculation.  Men 
follow  out  their  facts  to  results,  instead  of  reasoning  them 
out.  Then,  the  multiplicity  of  objects  and  events  that  exist 
in  the  old  countries  to  quicken  the  powers  of  the  mind,  has 
no  parallel  here.  It  is  owing  to  this  want  of  the  present 
and  the  past,  which-causes  the  American,  the  moment  he 
becomes  speculative,  to  run  into  the  future.  That  future 
promises  much,  and,  in  a  degree,  may  justify  the  weakness. 
Let  us  take  heed,  however,  that  it  do  not  lead  to  disappoint 
ment. 

After  all,  I  have  found  Lucy  the  most  dear  to  me,  and 
the  most  valuable  companion,  since  we  have  both  passed 
the  age  of  fifty.  Air  is  not  more  transparent,  than  her  pure 
mind,  and  I  ever  turn  to  it  for  counsel,  sympathy,  and  sup 
port,  with  a  confidence  and  reliance  that  experience  could 
alone  justify.  As  we  draw  nearer  to  the  close  of  life,  I  find 
my  wife  gradually  loosening  the  ties  of  this  world,  her  love 
for  her  husband  and  children  excepted,  and  fastening  her 
looks  on  a  future  world.  In  thus  accomplishing,  with  a 
truth  and  nature  that  are  unerringly  accurate,  the  great  end 
of  her  being,  nothing  repulsive,  nothing  that  is  in  the  least 
tinctured  with  bigotry,  and  nothing  that  is  even  alienated 
from  the  affections,  or  her  duties  in  life,  is  mingled  with 
her  devotion.  My  family,  like  its  female  head,  has  ever 
been  deeply  impressed  by  religion ;  but  it  is  religion  in  its 
most  pleasing  aspect ;  religion  that  has  no  taint  of  puritanisrn, 
36* 


426  MILES    WALLINGFORD. 

and  in  which  sin  and  innocent  gaiety  are  never  confounded 
It  is  the  most  cheerful  family  of  my  acquaintance  ;  and  this, 
I  must  implicitly  believe,  solely  because,  in  addition  to  the 
bounties  it  enjoys,  under  the  blessing  of  God,  it  draws  the 
just  distinction  between  those  things  that  the  word  of  God 
has  prohibited,  and  those  which  come  from  the  excited  and 
exaggerated  feelings  of  a  class  of  theologians,  who,  con 
stantly  preaching  the  doctrine  of  faith,  have  regulated  their 
moral  discipline  solely,  as  if,  in  their  hearts,  they  placed  all 
their  reliance  on  the  efficacy  of  a  school  of  good  works 
that  has  had  its  existence  in  their  own  diseased  imagina 
tions.  I  feel  the  deepest  gratitude  to  Lucy  for  having  en- 
stilled  the  most  profound  sense  of  their  duties  into  our  chil 
dren,  while  they  remain  totally  free  from  cant,  and  from 
those  exaggerations  and  professions  which  so  many  mistake 
for  piety  of  purer  emanation. 

Some  of  my  readers  may  feel  a  curiosity  to  know  how 
time  has  treated  us  elderly  people,  for  elderly  we  have  cer 
tainly  become.  As  for  myself,  I  enjoy  a  green  old  age,  and 
I  believe  look  at  least  ten  years  younger  than  I  am.  This, 
I  attribute  to  temperance  and  exercise.  Lucy  was  posi 
tively  an  attractive  woman  until  turned  of  fifty,  retaining 
even  a  good  deal  of  her  bloom  down  to  that  period  of  life. 
I  think  her  handsome  still ;  and  old  Neb,  when  in  a  flattering 
humour,  is  apt  to  speak  of  either  of  my  daughters  as  his 
"  handsome  young  missus,"  and  of  my  wife  as  his  "hand 
some  ole  missus." 

And  why  should  not  Lucy  Hardinge  continue  to  retain 
many  vestiges  of  those  charms  which  rendered  her  so  lovely 
in  youth  ?  Ingenuous,  pure  of  mind,  sincere,  truthful,  placid 
and  just,  the  soul  could  scarcely  fail  to  communicate  somo 
of  its  blessed  properties  to  that  countenance  which  even 
now  so  sensitively  reflects  its  best  impulses.  I  repeat,  Lucy 
is  still  handsome,  and  in  my  eyes  even  her  charming  daugh 
ters  are  less  fair.  That  she  has  so  long  been,  and  is  still 
my  wife,  forms  not  only  the  delight  but  the  pride  of  my 
life.  It  is  a  blessing,  for  which,  I  am  not  ashamed  to  say, 
I  daily  render  thanks  to  God,  on  my  knees. 

THE     END. 


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